Anthropology Archive

Explanatory Model

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Physician-anthropologist Kleinman (1980, 1988a, 1995) articulated the explanatory model, which examines how patients interpret the causes and progress of a malady and how they think it should be treated. The explanatory model elicits the patient's view of

• The cause of the condition, that is, what has happened and how or why
• The timing of symptom onset: why this has occurred now
• Pathophysiological processes: what the condition does to the body
• The natural history of the malady: its anticipated course and effects if left untreated
• Appropriate treatments: what the patient thinks should be done

The explanatory model provides a format for eliciting how a malady is interpreted by both patient and provider, making explicit the models used by both to interpret and explain a malady and decide among possible therapies. Because explanatory models may not be explicit, the process is useful in formulating the different clinical realities of the various participants, particularly giving voice to patients and their families. Explanatory models also give providers a mechanism for developing self-awareness and identifying

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