An introduction to the medical anthropology of care and self-care

Journal article

This special section on self-care introduces a research perspective sensitive to aspects of caring for self and other that are core to sociogenesis. We start with critical post-humanist research that highlights how bondaries between self and other get blurred in the context of caring. This is also demonstrated by ethno- and evolutionary biological research that leaves unmentioned the selfish gene and, instead, foregrounds the socially relevant in humans and primates. The focus throughout this research project into self-care, which goes beyond disciplinary boundaries, is on socio-ecologically comprehended selves.

Authors: Hsu, E

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Journal: Medical Anthropology
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 97-108
• Publication date: 2025-03-28
• Acceptance date: 2023-04-17
• DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2025.2479668
• EISSN: 1545-5882
• ISSN: 0145-9740
• Language: English
• Keywords: care; preventive medicine; self; self-care; sensory experience; social relatedness