The systematic study of the
structure and
organization of
systems that make some of its
variables depart from
norm ality. Originally restricted to health and bodily function, e.g., illness in medicine, it is now extended to include psychological and social processes as well, e.g., speech disturbances,
double binds and other
communication disorders, families with self-recognized problems, perpetual poverty in society. (
Krippendorff )
