Looking at Abortions as a Social Scientist
"I have this extraordinary curiosity about all subjects of the natural and human world and the interaction between the physical sciences and the social sciences "-- Ian Hacking. Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy (Oxford Dictionary, 2013). Social science is defined as the scientific study of human society and social relationships (The Free Dictionary, 2013). There is a link between abortion and social sciences since abortion affects human beings on many different social levels. The discussion of abortion and it's morality is a ongoing debate; the social issues surrounding abortion often go unnoticed on how it affects people on a psychological, sociological and anthropological level.
Abortion is the term used when medically or surgically terminating a pregnancy. Abortion is one of the most common and most controversial medical procedures. One of those many controversies is whether abortion harms women psychologically. Abortion affects people on a psychological level by giving them many mental and personal issues such as nervous disorders, sleep disturbances, regrets about their decisions, and some even reach the point they have to be prescribed psychotropic medicine by their family doctor. In a study of post-abortion patients only 8 weeks after their abortion, researchers found that 44% complained of nervous disorders, 36% had experienced sleep disturbances, 31% had regrets about their decision, and 11% had been prescribed psychotropic medicine by their family doctor ( Abortion Risks, 2013). Another fact about abortion affecting humans psychologically is that most of the women that had abortions had to be admitted in a hospital. A study of the medical records of 56,741 California medicaid patients revealed that women who had abortions were 160 percent more likely than delivering women to be hospitalized for psychiatric treatment in the first 90 days following abortion or delivery (Abortion Stats, 2012). After going through abortion many women consider suicide as an option, affecting their mental health on a much higher scale. Approximately 60 percent of women who experience post-abortion depression report suicidal ideation, with 28 percent actually attempting suicide, of which half attempted suicide two or more times ( University Of Minnesota, 1986). After having an abortion many women ten to turn to alcohol and drugs to help them overcome their psychological challenges, as Dr. David Reardon stated in a 2004 study that "Many women who have experienced abortion have unresolved emotional issues related to their abortion," he said. "Substance abuse can provide an easily accessible way to self-medicate their pain and numb their emotions. Unfortunately, however, substance abuse only leads to further difficulties-both in terms of their own well-being and problems in their families and other relationships-and can lead to a further breakdown in mental health"(After Abortion, 2013). Although there are many different ways that abortion affects a person on a psychological level, abortion also effect communities, families and society.
Sociology is the study of human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society (The Free Dictionary, 2014) . Abortion affects the development of society in many different ways and forms. Functionalism is the theory that each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole (Functionalist Theory). Abortion not only
kills the un-born child but it also might kill the mother that is bearing that child, this affects society by causing a decrease in our population. Every year 78,000 women die from unsafe and illegal abortions, which often go hand in hand (Pro Choice Action Network, 2014). Also aborting a child may cause grief and sorrow for the family that it was going to be apart of
"I have this extraordinary curiosity about all subjects of the natural and human world and the interaction between the physical sciences and the social sciences "-- Ian Hacking. Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy (Oxford Dictionary, 2013). Social science is defined as the scientific study of human society and social relationships (The Free Dictionary, 2013). There is a link between abortion and social sciences since abortion affects human beings on many different social levels. The discussion of abortion and it's morality is a ongoing debate; the social issues surrounding abortion often go unnoticed on how it affects people on a psychological, sociological and anthropological level.
Abortion is the term used when medically or surgically terminating a pregnancy. Abortion is one of the most common and most controversial medical procedures. One of those many controversies is whether abortion harms women psychologically. Abortion affects people on a psychological level by giving them many mental and personal issues such as nervous disorders, sleep disturbances, regrets about their decisions, and some even reach the point they have to be prescribed psychotropic medicine by their family doctor. In a study of post-abortion patients only 8 weeks after their abortion, researchers found that 44% complained of nervous disorders, 36% had experienced sleep disturbances, 31% had regrets about their decision, and 11% had been prescribed psychotropic medicine by their family doctor ( Abortion Risks, 2013). Another fact about abortion affecting humans psychologically is that most of the women that had abortions had to be admitted in a hospital. A study of the medical records of 56,741 California medicaid patients revealed that women who had abortions were 160 percent more likely than delivering women to be hospitalized for psychiatric treatment in the first 90 days following abortion or delivery (Abortion Stats, 2012). After going through abortion many women consider suicide as an option, affecting their mental health on a much higher scale. Approximately 60 percent of women who experience post-abortion depression report suicidal ideation, with 28 percent actually attempting suicide, of which half attempted suicide two or more times ( University Of Minnesota, 1986). After having an abortion many women ten to turn to alcohol and drugs to help them overcome their psychological challenges, as Dr. David Reardon stated in a 2004 study that "Many women who have experienced abortion have unresolved emotional issues related to their abortion," he said. "Substance abuse can provide an easily accessible way to self-medicate their pain and numb their emotions. Unfortunately, however, substance abuse only leads to further difficulties-both in terms of their own well-being and problems in their families and other relationships-and can lead to a further breakdown in mental health"(After Abortion, 2013). Although there are many different ways that abortion affects a person on a psychological level, abortion also effect communities, families and society.
Sociology is the study of human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society (The Free Dictionary, 2014) . Abortion affects the development of society in many different ways and forms. Functionalism is the theory that each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole (Functionalist Theory). Abortion not only
kills the un-born child but it also might kill the mother that is bearing that child, this affects society by causing a decrease in our population. Every year 78,000 women die from unsafe and illegal abortions, which often go hand in hand (Pro Choice Action Network, 2014). Also aborting a child may cause grief and sorrow for the family that it was going to be apart of