Emotion as Motivator: Parents, Professionals and Diagnosing Childhood Deafness. Issue 3 (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harris, Claire; Hemer, Susan; Chur-Hansen, Anna
• Is Part Of: Medical anthropology. Volume 40:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 254
• Page End: 266
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: Australia -- diagnosing childhood deafness -- emotions -- motivation -- parent reactions; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2020.1796659
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-9740

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Diagnosing deafness is a culturally situated practice generating considerable research in health sciences but limited work in anthropology. Diagnosis fast-tracks parents into a medical and education pathway but can also create tension for parents and professionals. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, we argue that in this biomedical context, emotions are often understood by professionals as impairing for parents, and hence problematic for the treatment process. In contrast emotions are characterized by parents as motivational and tools for decision making on a pathway that is experienced as a source of stress.