Therapeutic Cultures: From uniformity to diversity

Abstract

The aim of this article is to develop a comprehensive concept of Therapeutic Culture, in which sociology, social psychology, anthropology of religion and medical anthropology could meet. I suggest that this culture is not uniform but express a number of variations. In order to understand them, I describe four main dimensions: a conception of body and subjectivity, general beliefs that support therapies and social hierarchic models promoted. My research strategy is founded in ethnography and participant observation in therapeutic groups, expert and users interviews, and documental analysis of information sheets, publicity, brochures, books and web pages from Argentine, Spain and Mexico from 2007 to 2013. Supplementary, I review a large number of literature and secondary sources. The results show some uniformity in body and subjectivity conceptions and a great diversity in beliefs, therapies and relationship models. Empirical investigation permits to identify four different models of therapeutic relationship with different styles of exercise authority that contribute not only to conceive in different ways both health and disease, but also to practice the building of social relations.

Keywords

• cuerpo
• cultura terapéutica
• grupos terapéuticos
• subjetividad
• terapias alternativas