Manufacturing Depression The Secret History of a Modern...

Manufacturing Depression In Gary Greenbergs Manufacturing Depression: The Secret History of a Modern Disease, he takes an in depth look at the history behind depression, antidepressants, and how we have come to recognize and accept depression as a biochemical disease. When analyzing this book we can see that depression itself, whether it be a disease that is biochemically manifested or not, is deeply integrated into our society in a variety of ways as many aspects of society associated with depression have specific functions that are integral for society to function properly as a whole. Gary Greenberg is himself a psychologist who practices in Connecticut and has dealt with depression many times over his lifetime. In his book he gives†¦show more content†¦When it comes down to it, Greenberg is taking a conflict theoretical perspective on the depression epidemic. According to Karl Marx, â€Å"The bourgeoisie cannot exist without constantly revolutionizing the instruments of production, and thereby the relations of productions, and with them the whole relations of society† (2005:138). Nowadays, the pharmaceutical industry can be viewed as the modern day bourgeoisie. The pathologizing of the unhappiness resulting from peoples hardships and the invention of drugs to provide relief for those feelings is form of oppression and social control by the bourgeoisie pharmaceutical industry to keep people feeling conveniently tolerant with the unhappiness imbued in society. This is done so by defining this unhappiness as a problem within the biochemical make up of the brain instead of being an issue with ones life, such as dealing with the inevitability of death, disappointments pertaining to personal goals, and the loss of lovers and friends (Greenberg 2011). Conflict theory states that there is a continuous struggle for power, â€Å"the ability of individuals or the members of a group to achieve aims or further the interests they hold† (Giddens et a l. 2012:20). In todays world money often equates to power. I can understand Greenbergs viewpoint when applying this theoretical perspective to depression as it could be said that the pharmaceutical industry andShow MoreRelatedThe Boom of Persuasive Totalitarianism in Europes Damaged Nations1747 Words   |  7 Pagesproperty of the state (document 85, page 392). Later on, Stalin, Lenin’s predecessor, established the Five-Year Plan, supporting a centralized economy in which agriculture, manufacturing, finance, and transportation were regulated by government officials. Stalin defined his plan as a â€Å"system which is free of the incurable diseases of capitalism, [such as crises, unemployment, waste, and poverty], and which is greatly superior to capitalism† (document 86, page 396). 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