Behaviour is in the Practice: Examining Excessive Behaviours using a Practice Framework

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atmire.migration.oldid5112
dc.contributor.advisorStrong, Tom
dc.contributor.authorMudry, Tanya
dc.contributor.committeememberHodgins, David
dc.contributor.committeememberRussell-Mayhew, Shelly
dc.contributor.committeememberSaah, Rebecca
dc.contributor.committeememberHoskins, Marie
dc.date.accessioned2016-11-29T17:34:23Z
dc.date.available2016-11-29T17:34:23Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.date.submitted2016en
dc.description.abstractThe concept of “addictive” or excessive behaviours (EBs) has become an object of discussion, treatment, scientific investigation, and controversy. Much of the current research on EBs has utilized an etiological biomedical disease model for understanding EBs, with little focus on the actual practices of EBs, the relational trajectories sustaining EBs, and everyday lives in which EBs are enacted. In this dissertation I conceptualized EBs using a practice framework to show how EBs are reproduced, relationally grounded, and situated in practice networks in everyday life. A practice framework enabled me zoom in to the particularities of the practice, to understand the complex trajectories within the process – and zoom out to see the larger networks of practices influencing and sustaining the practice. Through this research, I also learned about participants’ co-occurring recovery practices that furnished preferred networks of practices. I analyzed 15 participant interviews using a focused ethnographic approach (Higginbottom, 2013; Knoblauch, 2005) and drew from practice theory (e.g., Kemmis, Edwards-Groves, Wilkinson, & Hardy, 2012; Nicolini, 2013; Schatzki, 2012), discursive research (Berger & Luckmann, 1966; Potter, 1997), positioning theory (Harré & van Langenhove, 1991), research in affective embodied practices (Lock, 1993; Wetherell, 2012), and Actor Network Theory (Latour, 2005). Based on this analysis, I depicted how food options, Internet features, game and phone design (“things”) played an integral role in the trajectories of EB practices. I illustrated how ability, availability, and the presence of people (“place”) were practice-contingent. I discerned discourses (superstition, normativity, addiction) that were reported important for enacting, explaining, directing, and resisting EB practices. Finally, I attended to larger networks of component practices, to map out the various other life practices that facilitate, support, sustain, or restrict and block EBs. In addition, I shared the intentional and naturally occurring recovery practices which participants engaged. This study offers contributions to addiction theory and research, and counselling practice.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMudry, T. (2016). Behaviour is in the Practice: Examining Excessive Behaviours using a Practice Framework (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25104en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/25104
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/3462
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectEducational Psychology
dc.subjectPsychology--Clinical
dc.subject.classificationExcessive Behavioursen_US
dc.subject.classificationAddictive Behavioursen_US
dc.subject.classificationAddictionen_US
dc.subject.classificationSocial Practiceen_US
dc.subject.classificationCounsellingen_US
dc.subject.classificationDiscursive Researchen_US
dc.subject.classificationActor Network Theoryen_US
dc.subject.classificationPractice Theoryen_US
dc.titleBehaviour is in the Practice: Examining Excessive Behaviours using a Practice Framework
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Psychology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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