The experimental approach has to do with illness narratives. Illness narratives can reveal how social expectations and stigmas contribute to illness and the process of healing, as well as the identity of patients (Karim, Lecture 4.2). Anthropologists study illness narratives to better understand the relationship between individual suffering and the social world. There are three aspects of illness when anthropologists look at it from the experimental approach. First is the narrative, which are the stories that people tell about their illness. The experience is the way that people feel, perceive, and cope with the illness. The last aspect is meaning, which is how people make sense of their illness.
My step-brother Johnny suffers from ADHD and he allowed me to interview him for this illness narrative. He has suffered from ADHD since he was a child and he still takes medication to treat it.
Around the age of seven, Johnny’s parents had started to notice signs that he was not able to focus on anything for too long. While he was in school, he could not even sit down in his seat for more than 20 minutes. Fortunately, Johnny was still able to make plenty of friends and never had a problem as far as the social aspect went. The only problem with Johnny was that is grades were suffering immensely. Like previously stated, he could barley sit down in class. The teachers new of his condition and tried tutoring him as much as possible, but as soon as he got home he would go over to someone’s house and not do any homework. Also, as soon as he sat down to do any homework, he would get back up in five minutes and not do it. Johnny was then taken to the doctors where he was prescribed ADHD medication, which was Adderall. Johnny was able to evaluate is condition and understand how it affected his life; he just didn’t let it affect him negatively. Soon after taking the medication, he was able to focus better and his grades slowly started to get better. Currently, Johnny is 17 years old and is still taking Adderall. His grades have dramatically improved and I can tell that he is steadily growing out of his hyperactivity.
Johnny’s narrative is one of restitution. This is considered a cure narrative. Johnny had a temporary illness that lasted about 10 years and the whole time he knew what he had and continued to strive to get better. He knew that it would take much effort and time, but with is continued goal of making himself better, he has started to grow out of this disease and improve his grades tremendously.
Sources:
"The Seahawks and the NFL Have an Adderall Problem | Isportsweb." Isportsweb. Accessed July 28, 2014.
"Reducing Classroom Problems By Teaching Kids Self-Control - Psych Central News." Psych Central.com. Accessed July 28, 2014.
My step-brother Johnny suffers from ADHD and he allowed me to interview him for this illness narrative. He has suffered from ADHD since he was a child and he still takes medication to treat it.
Around the age of seven, Johnny’s parents had started to notice signs that he was not able to focus on anything for too long. While he was in school, he could not even sit down in his seat for more than 20 minutes. Fortunately, Johnny was still able to make plenty of friends and never had a problem as far as the social aspect went. The only problem with Johnny was that is grades were suffering immensely. Like previously stated, he could barley sit down in class. The teachers new of his condition and tried tutoring him as much as possible, but as soon as he got home he would go over to someone’s house and not do any homework. Also, as soon as he sat down to do any homework, he would get back up in five minutes and not do it. Johnny was then taken to the doctors where he was prescribed ADHD medication, which was Adderall. Johnny was able to evaluate is condition and understand how it affected his life; he just didn’t let it affect him negatively. Soon after taking the medication, he was able to focus better and his grades slowly started to get better. Currently, Johnny is 17 years old and is still taking Adderall. His grades have dramatically improved and I can tell that he is steadily growing out of his hyperactivity.
Johnny’s narrative is one of restitution. This is considered a cure narrative. Johnny had a temporary illness that lasted about 10 years and the whole time he knew what he had and continued to strive to get better. He knew that it would take much effort and time, but with is continued goal of making himself better, he has started to grow out of this disease and improve his grades tremendously.
Sources:
"The Seahawks and the NFL Have an Adderall Problem | Isportsweb." Isportsweb. Accessed July 28, 2014.
"Reducing Classroom Problems By Teaching Kids Self-Control - Psych Central News." Psych Central.com. Accessed July 28, 2014.