“The gaze” and its influence on Narrative practice
There exists a significant body of literature which refers to a set of social constructs known as “the Gaze”. (Try Google-ing this!) One form of “the Gaze” which has been of particular interest for many who work from a Narrative Therapy framework, is that associated with the (so called) “medical model”, which is at the centre of Michel Foucault’s analysis of the operations of “modern power” particularly within the field of “mental health”.
Briefly, this refers to the way normative judgements about a person are used by practitioners who apply the “medical model” that objectifies the person as a subject for inferential definition and treatment. This method of practice now finds its place in many of our day-to-day living practices. A corollary to this practice which facilitates that operation is the common practice of self scrutiny that follows the same prescription for evaluation that occurs in the “medical model”.
This operates in the following way: a person measures her / himself against some performance ideal- (applies “the Gaze” to scrutinise how s /he is living her / his life)- which is assumed to exist but whose actual performance criteria are unknown / undefined. According to the rule generated in practice, no-one ever actually meets those criteria and each remains in deficit with regard to those criteria. Many / most / all of those who seek help by coming to counselling- (or other related avenues of endeavour- e.g. education, community development etc.)- give accounts of identity that are coloured by “the Gaze” and “failing to measure up” under its scrutiny.
In our experience, few if any persons find this useful / helpful , and applying “the gaze”often acts to strengthen the problem rather than diminish it.
If you are currently under the influence of “the Gaze” and would like to escape from its clutches…we may be able to help!