THE EXPERIENCE OF AGONIZING PAIN AND SIGNALS OF DISEMBODIMENT

Philosophical literature discussing embodiment has yet to address the many and multiple modes of disembodiment. The analysis of interviews w ith burn patients who had experienced agonizing injuries reveals refer ence to their own body parts using depersonalized language (i.e., it, the, this). The conjectures tested were: disembodiment (1) due to loss of sensation; (2) due to loss of ability to control the affected part ; (3) as learned from physicians; (4) as a means to protect the self i n an agonizing situation; or (5) as a means of controlling overwhelmin g pain. These alternative explanations for the use of linguistic signa ls of disembodiment were assessed by comparing burn patient interviews with interviews of patients who differed by significant characteristi cs (i.e., patients who had spinal cord injuries, transplants, or myoca rdial infarction). Thus, alternative conjectures for the use of disemb odying language were excluded, and the interpretation is advanced that the use of disembodying language by burn patients points toward a spe cial human capacity to maintain the integrity of the self during prolo nged agonizing experiences. The present study thus attempts a phenomen ological interpretation of the body and its experience by drawing on o therwise neglected qualitative research data to broaden and deepen our understanding of the experience of excruciating pain. (C) 1998 Elsevi er Science Inc.