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Self‐representations and physical impairment: a social constructionist approach.
Author(s) -
Ville Isabelle,
Ravaud JeanFrançois,
Diard Catherine,
Paicheler Henri
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
sociology of health and illness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1467-9566
pISSN - 0141-9889
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9566.ep11348739
Subject(s) - social constructionism , poliomyelitis , psychology , social representation , strict constructionism , perception , developmental psychology , social psychology , duty , sociology , medicine , epistemology , social science , philosophy , theology , virology , neuroscience
In this paper a social constructionist approach is used to frame an analysis of the effects of physical impairment on self‐perception. The results are reported of a recent study in which questionnaires were mailed to 314 people who were paraplegic and 284 who were post‐polio, as well as to a control group of 327 who had no visible physical impairments. While the people who were paraplegic and those who made up the control group gave similar answers to most of the survey questions, those who were post‐polio displayed a consistent, but different, way of reporting on their self‐representations. Moreover, this discourse, which included such self‐described characteristics as self‐control, a sense of duty, and a concern for meticulousness, was consistent in the post‐polio group across sex and age. It is concluded that the date of onset of physical impairment is significant in influencing the self‐representation of persons with physical impairments. The socio‐historical evolution of social practices and cultural expectations and norms with respect to persons with disabilities in Western cultures were taken into account in interpreting the results of this survey.