What is etiology?

Since ancient times, human beings have always wondered about the reality and circumstances that surround their passage through the world. Where do we come from and what surrounds us? Where we go? Why do we exist? How are the creatures, conditions and phenomena we observe explained? And one of the questions that perhaps we have asked ourselves the most when observing a phenomenon, action or situation: what is its cause?

It is possible that when we hear a doctor, psychologist or other professional speak, at some point they use the word etiology when referring to solve any of the above questions, a word that may be rare or unknown to most of the people. What is etiology? In this article we will briefly analyze this concept..

• Related article: "The 12 branches (or fields) of Psychology"

The etiology concept

Etiology is the branch of science that deals with the study and analysis of the cause or genesis of things.events, or situations.

It is important to take into account and emphasize that this is a study of a scientific nature, analyzing and exploring the variables that can generate the phenomena analyzed. For this, experimental methodology is used to analyze the relationships between different variables.

Thus, the concept of etiology would not include beliefs that have not been empirically and experimentally proven, despite the fact that they also try to give meaning and attribute an origin to different aspects of reality. However, although it is not a word widely used by the general population, it is sometimes frequently used used at the popular level to talk about the cause attributed to a phenomenon even though said link is not demonstrated.

Analyzing a phenomenon by parts

It must be taken into account that in any natural process there are always many factors involved that influence in a more direct or indirect way what is being studied. Therefore, through etiology we try to clarify what are the main processes or phenomena that explain something, assuming that they are probably not the only ones and that surely there are many behind them. others.

Thus, what we are trying to do is break down a phenomenon into parts and focus on its root, understanding that the cause of interest must provide a combination of completeness and simplicity to the explanation of what happens.

Not just the direct cause

In addition to the causes themselves, It also allows establishing factors and variables that, without being directly the cause, participate in the genesis. of what has been studied or that make it difficult.

The predisposing or protective factors that participate in or make the appearance of, for example, a disease less probable are studied and analyzed. Triggers and enhancers are also worked on.

In conclusion, the variables that interact to cause a situation are studied, taking into account that generally there is no single cause.

etiology in science

Etiology is a science that in turn is part of many other disciplines, since in these The latter also explores the reason or cause of the phenomena of a certain field of knowledge. Next we will observe how it is applied and what etiology is dedicated to in different fields.

1. Medicine

In the field of medicine, the term etiology is used to talk about the cause of diseases and disorders suffered by users or patients.

The origin of a disease is sought in order to understand the mechanism of action and the functioning of this and from this knowledge, investigate and generate treatments that can cure it or alleviate its symptoms.

The causes in question are usually biological and in many cases can be very clear, despite the fact that the same disease can have different causes in different cases.

2. Psychology

In the field of psychology, etiology also seeks the causes of an individual having different cognitions or beliefs, perform or not perform a specific behavior or the factors that cause a disorder mental.

In this area, the study of the causes is relatively more complex than in the previous case, since the mental phenomena They are not directly observable. It is necessary to extrapolate the information from the relationships established between different variables.

3. Sociology

In sociology, etiology is responsible for searching, studying and analyzing the factors that explain the origin of a certain social phenomenon.

Aspects like the leadership, the formation of a group and phenomena such as group polarization, the existence of urban tribes, beliefs and Customs are examples of themes whose origin is sought in sociology (and also from psychology). social).

4. biology

As in medicine, biology also analyzes the cause or etiology of the different biological processes that occur both in our species and in others.

The origin of processes and phenomena such as reproduction, feeding, migration or the characteristics of living beings, for example, are analyzed. Depending on whether the focus is placed on the micro or the macro, the sought etiology will vary.

5. Right

In law, the word etiology is not usually used as much as in the health sciences, but it also has its application in this field.

Thus, the causes that have led to the commission of a crime, or of certain norms and laws, are sought, and that is the element that explains more things about what happened.

Bibliographic references:

• Aetiology. Oxford English Dictionary (2002). Oxford University Press.
• Longmore, M., Wilkinson, I., Baldwin, A. and Wallin, E. (2014). Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.