A Summary on “Addiction in Free Markets” Bruce k. Alexander who is a professor at Simon Fraser University and Stefa Shaler who is a Freelance Social Worker, describe the beginning of the twenty first century as a time of strain on society and members needs to feel included and not dislocated. A member should feel they are included in a larger community with a sense of belonging, if this psychosocial integration is not met a member could be a candidate of gaining an addiction and this is what Alexander and Shaler are claiming in the writing “Addictions in Free Markets”
If a market is solely controlled on supply and demand it is considered a free market. If a market is free a member is more than likely to feel an inferior sense of belonging due to supply and demand, and if they can keep up with the changes of society. People who cannot accept society’s change are often left dislocated from the other members. Although a market doesn’t have to be free to feel this way it is just more common in a free market.
Dislocation from a free market can cause one to feel excluded and this leads to addiction. If a member doesn’t reach a reasonable degree of psychosocial integration they find a substitute lifestyle and consequently gain an addiction to fill the void that they are left with. Addiction can really be anything such as: drugs, alcohol, gambling, and even sex. Alexander and Shaler claim that it is natural for members to blame their problems on addictions and find that people will often do this.
Alexander and Shaler believe that in a free market the spread of addiction is from political and spiritual problems. Members refuse to give up hope in believing that a free market will create universal well-being, but Alexander and Shaler question that if a free market doesn’t find a generous source of psychosocial integration they will become even more dislocated which will lead to an increase in addictions.
If a society would just create a sense of belonging and meaning for the victims of dislocation they might be able to control addictions. Therefore Alexander and Shaler strongly believe that a free market society is the problem, and they need to create a healthier environment for people to live in so there are fewer addictions. They state that a “healthier society ultimately leads to a healthier economic system as well. ”