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Personal complexities. COMT 492/592. Narrative. Two modes of thought Logical reasoning – pardigmatic Narrative – examination of feelings, personal experiences Stories about health Interconnect both types of reasoning-each story reflects the whole of who we are Narratives become products
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Personal complexities COMT 492/592
Narrative • Two modes of thought • Logical reasoning – pardigmatic • Narrative – examination of feelings, personal experiences • Stories about health • Interconnect both types of reasoning-each story reflects the whole of who we are • Narratives become products • Other people listen to them • Vehicles for social change
Health Narratives • Communicating personal fears to others • Connects personal to political by giving voice to life with disability, and limits set by insurance
Provider’s narratives • Disproportionate privilege granted – dominates voice of medicine – silences voice of patient • Providers are also constrained • By American Medical Model, to be scientific not emotional • By managed care to be quick, not caring • Need to be combined with stories of significant others, support network
Narrative & Identity • Disembodiment • A reversal of normal or desired state, away from self. • Spoiled identity or stigma • Loss of control over our bodies (Goffman, 1963) • Body doesn’t meet cultural ideal • Our society privileges perfect bodies • Passing • Try to keep body (whole or part) invisible from public, manage “sick” identity • Transformation • Taking control of illness (or problem) through storytelling
Identity Work • Identity work • process of articulating what it means to have a life proscribed by illness – • illness begins a process of renegotiating identity • Identity work leads to discoveries: • What I have always been (reclaiming right to be who one is) • Who I might become • Cumulative epiphanies (series of self-discoveries)