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Health and the Construction of the Individual

A Social Study of Social Science

• By Jane Ogden

• Price: $31.95
• Binding: Paperback
• Pages: 144
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 29th November 2001
• Illustrations: 37
• ISBN: 978-0-415-23307-1

About the Book

Social Constructionism has been used mainly to explore how individuals construct their world or to investigate the social construction of knowledge. However, whilst critical studies of medical knowledge and the construction of scientific knowledge have been conducted, to date, social science knowledge remains unquestioned.
Taking up this challenge, Health and the Construction of the Individual is a social study of social science. Focusing particularly on constructions of the individual in health-related psychological and sociological texts, Jane Ogden explores how social science constructs social science facts by using methodology, measurement, theory and boundaries.
Health and the Construction of the Individual will make fascinating reading for health psychologists, medical sociologists, social constructionists and all students and researchers interested in gaining a greater understanding of the premises underlying social science.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Towards a Social Study of Social Science. Methodology and the Construction of the Individual: The Example of Sex Research. Changing Measurement and the Example of Health Status. Theory as Data: The Example of Health and Risk. The Rhetorical Challenge to Biomedicine: Defining what the Individual is Not. Defining the Individual/Social Boundary: Constructing the Individual as Not Social. Who is the Late Twentieth Century Individual? The Example of Diet as a Vehicle for Self Control. Conclusion: Constructing the Individual and the Implications for Social Science. References. Index.

About the Author(s)

Jane Ogden is Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine. Her previous publications include Health Psychology (Open University Press)