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Mechanism and Morality in Patients' Views of Illness and Injury
Author(s) -
Harris Grace Gredys
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
medical anthropology quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.855
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1548-1387
pISSN - 0745-5194
DOI - 10.1525/maq.1989.3.1.02a00010
Subject(s) - morality , parallels , mechanism (biology) , symbol (formal) , element (criminal law) , interpretation (philosophy) , stress (linguistics) , psychology , social psychology , value (mathematics) , epistemology , sociology , law , philosophy , political science , linguistics , mechanical engineering , machine learning , computer science , engineering
In this article I examine the ways in which patients discussed illnesses and injuries as life events in structured, open‐ended interviews. I show how explanation (identifying cause) and interpretation (identifying reason) were brought together, linking mechanism with morality. Respondents, rather than merely juxtaposing or contrasting mechanism and morality, joined them by using a psychologized view of human beings centering on the notion of “stress.” I claim that “stress” as a coupling element is now a culturally available medico‐moral concept in the United States that allows “fact” and “value” to interpenetrate. Although some physicians and stress researchers use “stress” as a medico‐moral term, they appear to desocialize it, whereas the study's respondents implicated “stress” in actions and interactions evaluated as undesirable or wrong. As a bridge‐symbol, “stress” parallels multivocal ritual and sacred symbols.