Date of Award
5-17-2001
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
The research question for this study explores change in the lived experience of the substance abuser whose life is moving from dysfunctional-to-functional and investigates how communication grounds this change in human interaction. Communication appears in experience as one changes from addictive substance dysfunctionality to a balanced functionality. The communicative processes, in the setting of a therapeutic community, are constructive to such transitions. The methodology for answering this question of how suggests addressing the lived experience of transition. Narrative analysis of the eight open-ended interviews produced three emergent themes. Those emergent themes are (1) isolation, (2) self-disclosure, and (3) connectedness. The process of communicative interaction is a vital step demonstrated in all three emergent themes within the context of a therapeutic community.
Recommended Citation
Cramer, Victoria Jean, "A communicative journey from dysfunctional-to-functional in a therapeutic community for substance abuse" (2001). Communication . 35.
https://ualaska.researchcommons.org/uaf_grad_comm/35
Handle
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/6662