A researcher in the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, wants to talk to people who have suffered injuries to their face or had facial surgery as a result of cancer, as part of an investigation into the effect it has had on their life course.
Anne-Marie Martindale believes that studies of the psychological effects of injury or surgery have tended to focus on people as patients, and not on their lives and relationships.
“Most of the research conceptualises facial difference as a bio-medical and social disability, as a problem to be ‘fixed’ through medical and therapeutic interventions,” she said.
“Such research has illustrated that people who do not live up to facial norms can receive negative social sanctions, which can lead to social isolation and depression.
“However, few studies explore why people have been treated in this way; or explore how they experience facial difference.”
Anne-Marie has interviewed four people so far for the study and wants to achieve a total of around 20. She will present an overview of her work to the British Sociological Association’s Medical Sociology Conference at the University of Chester on 14–16 September.
For more information about the study please contact Anne-Marie Martindale at: ammartin@liv.ac.uk or on 0772 251 4499. A participant information leaflet is available here.
Anne Marie Martindale