Economic Transformations and the Processing of Hyperactive School Children

Hyperactive behavior as a medically defined social problem is examined, in order to emphasize the role of political economy as it applies to social problems research. Much of the research on hyperkinesis tends to adopt an ahistorical, symbolic interactionist perspective and fails to account for the structural bases of social control practices. Structural (economic and legal) determinants are examined which influenced the emergence and development of hyperactive behavior as a social problem. The implications for other medically defined social problems are suggested.