On “Labeling” in Actual Interaction: Delivering and Receiving Diagnoses of Developmental Disabilities

In order to deepen the understanding of labeling as a social activity, we propose that more attention be devoted to the actual activities of those involved in the process. Our research concerns professional-lay interaction in a clinic for developmental disabilities. Using videotapes of informing interviews involving clinicians and parents, we examine the delivery and receipt of diagnostic news. We show that clinicians proceed cautiously when presenting labels to parents, using devices such as the Perspective-Display Series, Incomplete Syllogism, Retrospective Perspective-Display, and Subordinating the Label, that allow parents' responses to enter into the news delivery and labeling process. We also find that participants invoke social outcomes in promoting and resisting labels.