Alminnelighetens potensial : en sosiologisk studie av følelser, identitet og terapeutisk endring

Abstract

Small talk er viktig i rusbehandling. Det terapeutiske potensialet i uformell samhandling mellom klienter og ansatte på en behandlingsinstitusjon for rusmisbrukere er tema i avhandlingen til Astrid Skatvedt. Hun forsvarer sin avhandling for Ph.D. graden ved Universitetet i Oslo fredag 6. februar 2009.<br><br>

I avhandlingen ”Alminnelighetens potensial. En sosiologisk studie av følelser, identitet og terapeutisk endring” analyseres hverdagslig samvær mellom ansatte og beboere i en behandlingsinstitusjon for rusmisbrukere. Materialet er kvalitativt, og bygger på feltarbeid med deltakende observasjon og intervjuer som metode. Det er samhandlingssituasjoner utenfor terapisesjonene som studeres, situasjoner som ikke har noe formelt erklært terapeutisk formål. Studien er klientsentrert i den forstand at oppmerksomheten rettes mot klientenes virkelighetsoppfatninger og ikke de ansattes. <br><br>

Skatvedt retter søkelyset mot hvordan situasjoner som i utgangspunktet virker dagligdagse og ubetydelige kan berøre de involverte følelsesmessig, og på en slik måte at de kan endre syn på seg selv. I avhandlingen hevdes det at det ligger et potensial for terapi i enkelte typer hverdagslig samvær - ”small talk” - mellom klient og terapeut. Dette er situasjoner der klientene opplever å bli sett som alminnelige. Å bli møtt som en alminnelig person i motsetning til en rusmisbruker ser ut til å være et viktig element i en terapeutisk prosess der klientene beveger seg fra å kun se seg selv som avvikere til å få et selvbilde også som ”normale” og verdige personer. Avhandlingen tar for seg situasjoner som tilsynelatende er biprodukter av de mer formaliserte relasjonene, men som likevel kan bidra til det terapeutiske arbeidet ved institusjonen.<br><br>

Analysen bygger i hovedsak på teoretiske bidrag fra Howard Becker, Randall Collins, Johan Asplund og Erving Goffman. For eksempel reverseres Beckers stemplingsteori for å beskrive prosesser som kan ut av avvikskarrierer og inn i andre og mer positive identiteter.

Astrid Skatvedt’s thesis: The potential of the commonplace. A sociological study of emotions, identity and therapeutic change – analyses informal interaction between clients and therapists. It focuses on emotions in the everyday interaction situation and the development and change of identity. The study was carried out in a residential rehabilitation unit for adult drug abusers.<br><br>

The empirical data is constructed on the basis of fieldwork and participant observation during a period of approximately one year.<br><br>

A main question in psychological-psychiatric research concerns the characteristics of the therapeutic working elements: what makes people change in the directions they want? This study also asks this question, but encounters it differently than many other studies in the same field. Many treatment studies are studies of effects and discuss different treatment methods in relation to each other. In this project, the attention is directed toward elements that all therapeutic activity have in common: interaction between therapist and client. The project takes the clients’ perspective, and illuminates aspects of “civil relations” that often elude scientific research. It speaks to major issues in recent research on clients’ understandings of the treatment relation. Of particular concern is communication in what might be called commonplace interaction – “small talk” - face to face, in encounters between client and therapist. Both the treatment relation and communication between client and therapist are regarded as important aspects in therapy; even so: commonplace, informal interaction, such as small-talk, is an almost totally empirically neglected area in this field.<br><br>

This dissertation illuminates in particular emotional aspects of such interaction situations, which seem to be of great importance for identity construction and therapeutic change. The findings imply that informal interaction consist of situations that emotionally “move” the involved persons. These seem, on the surface of things, trivial, minor, superficial and very common. Still and perhaps because of their “smallness”, they show qualities that suggest authentic interaction, immediate and unfeigned, by participants. Informal interaction give the initial impression of insignificance with regard to therapeutic change, but emerge as powerful counterweights to deviant- and abuser-identities, opening up space for other, more positive and desirable identities. <br><br>

The analysis draws upon theoretical contributions from Howard Becker, Randall Collins, Erving Goffman and Johan Asplund. Becker’s labelling theory is elaborated and “turned” in order to interpret processes that help bearers of deviant identities develop identities as normal persons. Goffman’s perspectives on identity construction in interaction situations are expanded by explicating emotional aspects of everyday meetings. The residents perceive the symbolic signs of their own identity as normal people as this is mirrored by the other (here: the therapist). The signs of normality inherent in informal interaction situations appear to be more trustworthy and authentic, and therefore more emotionally moving than the feedback clients may receive in formal therapeutic situations. The commonplace seems to have a powerful impact on the client’s perception of him- or herself as a normal and worthy person. <br><br>

To be met as an ordinary person appears to be an important element in the therapeutic process for the clients in this study, producing hope for the recovery process. Commonplace interaction situations have a powerful potential to move clients, both emotionally and biographically, into other identities. Clients are confirmed as ordinary people through processes in which they, when emotionally moved, also can be moved biographically into alternative identities. Further, this biographical movement empowers the emotional experience. Seen together, these interrelated processes of movement contribute to the confirmation and elaboration of selves as “common people”. <br><br>

This doctoral study illuminates situations that seem to be by-products of more formalised relations, but which can contribute to the therapeutic work in the institution.