Tacit knowledge of caring and embodied selfhood

Abstract

The tacit knowledge paradigm is gaining recognition as an important source of knowledge that informs clinical decision-making. It is, however, limited by an exclusive focus on knowledge acquired through clinical practice, and a consequent neglect of the primordial and socio-cultural significance of embodied selfhood, precisely what provides the foundational structure of tacit knowledge of caring and facilitates its manifestation. Drawing on findings from a qualitative study of 43 dementia care practitioners in Ontario, Canada that utilised researchbased drama and focus group methodology, we argue that embodied selfhood is fundamental to tacit knowledge of caring. Results are analysed drawing upon the theoretical precepts of embodied selfhood that are rooted in Merleau-Ponty's (1962) reconceptualisation of perception and Bourdieu's (1977Bourdieu's ( , 1990) notion of habitus . We conclude with a call for further exploration of the body as a site of the production of tacit knowledge.

Grief, Anger, and Relationality

“…This is concerning given recent research that suggests that client outbursts can be a logical, predictable consequence of the poor environmental simulacra of 'home' within inpatient rehabilitation settings (Kontos et al, Forthcoming). Here, advances in dementia research may offer important insight regarding personenvironment interaction, and the elicitation of embodied knowledge through environmental familiarity (Kontos, 2006;Kontos & Martin, 2013;Kontos & Naglie, 2009). Sherwin and O'Shanick (2000) note that rehabilitation staff rarely broach with TBI clients issues of interpersonal relationships, intimacy or sexuality.…”

Corpos e experiências com demências: seguindo emaranhados de subjetividades e substâncias

“…Pia Kontos e alguns parceiros (2005; Kontos & Naglie, 2009;Kontos et al, 2011) têm feito um exercício nesse sentido ao produzir sobre a Doença de Alzheimer: fazer o sujeito aparecer em escrita etnográica a partir dos desejos expressos pelo corpo e de como esse desejo e saber do corpo, ele mesmo, é composto pela sociedade que o circula. Em diálogo com os estudos que investem tinta nas manifestações da pessoa -personhood -, chamam atenção para as tecnologias de diálogo e cuidado que vão se fazendo na interação com pessoas com demência.…”

The focus group method and possibilities of its application in kinantropological research

“…V sociologii nalézáme kořeny focus group v evaluaci efektivity skupinové terapie (Stewart, Shamdasani & Rook, 2007, Kontos & Naglie, 2009. Významný podíl na formulování focus group jako kvalitativní výzkumné metody náleží Morganovi a Spanishovi (1984) a Morganovi (2001), kteří definovali základní rámec pro design focus group.…”