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The Importance of “Empty Gestures” in Recovery: Being Human Together
Author(s) -
Skatvedt Astrid
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
symbolic interaction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.874
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1533-8665
pISSN - 0195-6086
DOI - 10.1002/symb.291
Subject(s) - silence , gesture , ethnography , treasure , inclusion (mineral) , value (mathematics) , psychology , mental health , addiction , sociology , social psychology , aesthetics , psychotherapist , computer science , psychiatry , anthropology , art , history , archaeology , machine learning , computer vision
What do clients/patients want or value from their encounters with healthcare providers? Based on ethnographic research conducted with individuals suffering from drug addiction and mental health issues, this article argues that clients/patients treasure “everyday” or “human” interaction with medical staff. Everydayness is accomplished through three generic social processes: **co‐silence, inclusion in back‐stage activity, and physical dramatizations of authenticity. These processes and other ordinary interactional strategies for “being human together” should be seen as vital tools for recovery.