Self‐interpellation in narratives about craving : Multiple and unitary selves

• The concept of addiction seeks to explain why people actcontrary to their own best interest. At the centre stageof addiction discourse is craving, conceptualised as astrong urge to use substances. This article analyses howtalk therapies such as relapse prevention and self-helpgroups shape identity constructions and understandingsof craving among clients. Drawing upon interviewswith individuals who have engaged in talk therapies inSweden, we analyse how craving is made up through‘self-interpellation’, that is, personal narratives aboutpast, present or future thoughts, feelings and actions.The main ‘self-interpellation’ included multiple selves,where craving was elided by the true self and only feltby the inauthentic self. Less dominant were narrativeswhich drew on a unitary self that remained stable overtime and had to fight craving. The notion of multipleselves appeared as a master narrative that the participantswere positioned by in their identity constructions.We conclude that this multiplicity seems ontologicallydemanding for people who try to recover from substanceuse problems. A demystification of craving, in whichneither substance effects nor malfunctioning brains areblamed for seemingly irrational thoughts and actions, may reduce the stigmatisation of those who have developedhabitual substance use.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

craving

identity construction

multiple selves

narrative

relapse prevention

user perspectives

socialt arbete med inriktning på vårdforskning

Social Work

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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