ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines a social system approach to hyperactivity as a contrasting model to the medical-clinical approach, which is the predominant model for explaining the causes of hyperactivity. In presenting this approach, a concept of "situational hyperactivity" will be developed with examples from the research. The prevailing explanations of etiology for hyperactivity are generally in the medical-clinical framework. They postulate some type of organic base or dysfunction. From a social system perspective, the designation "hyperactive child" does not describe individual pathology but rather refers to a label that is applied to that child. The sociological model of etiology is in contrast to the medical-clinical, behavioral, or psychological models. The behavior may be an adaptation to the situation, a conflict within the situation, or a comment on the social system. The medical-clinical model assumes organic dysfunction; the behavioral model assumes that the behavior is either "bad habits," inadequate socialization, or an adaptation to the environment.
