An analytic typology of disclaimers, excuses and justifications surrounding illness: A situational approach to health and illness

Abstract

An analytic typology of disclaimers, excuses and justifications is developed to demonstrate how illness is possible within our everyday social situations. Beginning with the concepts of the 'disclaimer' from Hewitt and Stokes, and the 'exuce' and 'justification' from Scott and Lyman, these concepts are extended and reconceptualized to apply to circumstances where signs and symptoms of illness compromise and disrupt role performance and situational participation. Using a situational perspective on health and illness, the presentation of a disclaimer, excuse or justification is seen as a means of allowing the symptomatic individual to 'drift' in and out of illness while protecting his and others' social identity, the integrity of the social situation and the individual's health status.