psychologization
Psychologization, also spelled psychologisation, is a sociocultural process in which aspects of human experience—emotions, behavior, relationships, and even social problems—are explained and addressed primarily through psychological concepts, theories, and interventions rather than through social, political, or structural explanations. It involves the use of psychological language, diagnostic labels, and therapeutic ideas to interpret a wide range of phenomena, from personal difficulties to public policies.
The phenomenon operates across multiple domains. In education, for example, behavior management and social-emotional learning frame
Critics argue that psychologization can be overreaching and reductionist. It may pathologize normal distress or moral
Related terms include medicalization, therapy culture, and the governance of the self, all of which intersect