Particular experiences: a psychosocial exploration of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and its relationship with self, environment and the material world

摘要: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a symptomatically defined and debilitating condition that presents range of physiological psychological effects. Post-exertional ongoing low energy levels are cardinal features. Whilst ME-like conditions have been recognised for at least two hundred years, they characterised over recent decades by fiercely contested debate whether aetiology primarily or physiological. ME sufferers experience profound changes their self-perception, ability maintain daily routines activities how perceived in terms capacity carry out social roles, including illness-status. The results in-part from climate dualistic thought the biomedical model upon which treated theorised. effects on self investigated various qualitative quantitative perspectives, primary purpose this thesis develop psychosocial framework explore previously neglected dimensions effect experience. Developing understanding keeping with turn towards post-Cartesian non-dualistic thinking. second interconnected address role played material environment objects conceptualise importance relation it affected ME. This currently absent literature suitable rested synthesis Actor Network Theory (ANT) psychoanalytically influenced use metaphor metonymy. At heart notions relational ontology (Latour, 1997; DeLanda, 2002) assemblage (Deleuze Guattari, 1987; 2002; Hodder, 2012). A focuses relations between disparate such artefacts, humans, other organisms concepts avoids prioritising any one ‘thing’ more important than another. notion has emerged alongside ideas concerning complexity, chaos indeterminacy informs vocabulary addressing problem causality, determination stability phenomena (Venn, 2006). As part informed these enable an exploration bringing together aspects everyday objects, experiences, symptoms environments non-causal, processual manner. psychoanalytic element enables unconscious irrational experience, most pertinent regards Thus, premise research was establish methodology theoretical basis Moreover, designed engage complex, coincident entangled nature symptoms, discourses, non-human appears be comprised of. Methods were developed enabled researcher day-to-day life eight six month period. involved working taking own homes spaces around home frequented, shopping malls even cemetery; itself novel into Of sufferers, three male [age 49 – 65; earliest formal diagnosis occurring 2005] five females 25 63; 2002]. Two paid employment, retired unable work due Due extensive data, only 3 case studies, female, selected in-depth analysis. Cases those clearly illustrated central analytic themes. Data talk, audio-visual affective responses researcher. Analytic methods devised initially adopted thematic approach before metaphoric metonymic equivalences drawn what discussed routines, engaged with. descriptions things became networked, ANT sense, implicated. key finding spaces. term captures manner which, certain hence maintenance intrinsically enmeshed immediate physical environment. Further findings include way seemingly food blenders can co-opted means enhancing self-experience light Overall, PhD success applicability its contribution field approaches. assertion enhances effects, highlighting variable yet particular incorporating hitherto unconsidered outlined above.