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Heterogeneity in the Interpretation of Epilepsy

Department of Sociology, University of Amsterdam

In the life stories of 20 women and men, diagnosed as having epilepsy, diversity in the interpretations of epilepsy is researched. Early research has presented a rather homogeneous picture of the individual interpretation of epilepsy. The research has been criticized for the failure to distinguish between the interpretations of the self and those of others and the probability of a discrepancy between the two. The criticism put forward here is directed at the unwarranted homogeneity in the interpretations of the self. This homogeneity, it is suggested, is the result of factors such as the use of homogenetic concepts preset by the researcher, the use of encompassing concepts, not allowing for differentiation and heterogeneity, and the presentation of homogeneity by the researcher him/herself. In the interpretations observed in this research, heterogeneity is found. In life stories from the same individual, different interpretations are observed. Next to medical interpretations of "disease," those of "normality" and "abnormality" are ascribed to epilepsy, depending on whether the informants speak for themselves or are the spokesperson for "others. " Furthermore, the interpretation of abnormality appears to be formulated in an ambiguous and vaguely defined language. In the life stories, epilepsy appears thus not to have a homogeneous meaning but is constructed as a heterogeneous social phenomenon.

Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 8, No. 1, 95-105 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/104973239800800107


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