Paper Short Abstract:

The thesis analyzes representations and meanings of 'self-awareness' in individuals’ self-care practices, discusses the construction of ‘health’ and ‘illness’ narratives, and examines power relations between alternative and biomedicine from a sociocultural perspective. 

Paper Abstract:

Via the insider’s (anthropological, ‘emic’) perspective, the thesis analyzes representations and meanings of 'self-awareness' in individual’s self-care practices, discusses the construction of ‘health’ and ‘illness’ narratives, and examines power relations between alternative and biomedicine from a sociocultural perspective. 

Ethnographic research (2016-2019) among systematic practitioners and supporters of alternative healing in Lithuania revealed the tendency of alternative healing (and/or self-care practices) to be anticipated with the ideas of self-awareness, self-education, ‘inner self’/spiritual development’, and similar. In this thesis, the meanings of ‘self-development’ and ‘self-awareness’ within the field of non-conventional healing/self-care practices in Lithuania in the last decades will be analyzed. 

Results will discuss what ‘self-development’ and ‘self-awareness’ mean in the context of self-care/healing. Why are mentioned practices important (for practitioners)?

In which ways is alternative healing culture is positioned in comparison with biomedical discourse? Might ‘self-awareness’ act as a form of ‘autonomy’ for alternative healing culture supporters? What does this autonomy represent? How is it intertwined with the identity of alternative healing culture enthusiasts?