A sociology perspective on addictions:
-governmentality approach
-lifestyle approach
Intro:
Whenever there is an addiction there is always people’s opinions on wether it is good or bad.
Topic that creates a lot of animosity.
-Social norms vary across time and places
In the past addiction was a thing because of water contamination and how the safer bet was to
drink beer.
In modernity: drinking became a social order. It makes people lack productivity. Late 19th c and
early 20th c: alcohol prohibition became a thing.
People used to be placed in prison for being drunk
Society takes a stand on substances.
We build our part of our identity by the form of consumption that we value.
Identity is considered as a flued construct.
The notion of freedom in a context of neoliberalism: we are free to make choices and those
choices are a part of us building our identity.
Context of (high) modernity: autonomy, choice, freedom, self identity, increased options,
responsibility.
*where does an individuals responsibility falls within all this*
Social representation of gambling: luxury, wealth, fun, debt, hope, dream
Governmentality:
-variety of authorities- responsible for managing the conduct of citizens
(Gambling: the house, the gamblers, lotto Quebec)
-we understand how different actors bring their own interests and objectives, at times in
agreement, in disagreement, or simply in indifference, for how this mandate should be achieved
-the study of how relationships between the State and its citizens are reconstructed offers a
springboard to ask fundamental questions about democracy and equity in late-modern states.
Why don’t people with addictions get help:
-don’t admit that they have an addiction
-embarassed
-being hooked and not wanting the help
Look at the discourse that is conveyed to understand the problem of addiction
Discourse analysis: looks at the authority that produces the messages to portrait the addiction
-power, knowledge & authority.
-governmentality approach
-lifestyle approach
Intro:
Whenever there is an addiction there is always people’s opinions on wether it is good or bad.
Topic that creates a lot of animosity.
-Social norms vary across time and places
In the past addiction was a thing because of water contamination and how the safer bet was to
drink beer.
In modernity: drinking became a social order. It makes people lack productivity. Late 19th c and
early 20th c: alcohol prohibition became a thing.
People used to be placed in prison for being drunk
Society takes a stand on substances.
We build our part of our identity by the form of consumption that we value.
Identity is considered as a flued construct.
The notion of freedom in a context of neoliberalism: we are free to make choices and those
choices are a part of us building our identity.
Context of (high) modernity: autonomy, choice, freedom, self identity, increased options,
responsibility.
*where does an individuals responsibility falls within all this*
Social representation of gambling: luxury, wealth, fun, debt, hope, dream
Governmentality:
-variety of authorities- responsible for managing the conduct of citizens
(Gambling: the house, the gamblers, lotto Quebec)
-we understand how different actors bring their own interests and objectives, at times in
agreement, in disagreement, or simply in indifference, for how this mandate should be achieved
-the study of how relationships between the State and its citizens are reconstructed offers a
springboard to ask fundamental questions about democracy and equity in late-modern states.
Why don’t people with addictions get help:
-don’t admit that they have an addiction
-embarassed
-being hooked and not wanting the help
Look at the discourse that is conveyed to understand the problem of addiction
Discourse analysis: looks at the authority that produces the messages to portrait the addiction
-power, knowledge & authority.
