Explicit generalisations are statements that attribute a characteristic to all members of a social category (e.g. drug users). This article examines the tensions and negotiations that the use of generalisations prompts within support group interactions. Generalisations are practices for the cautious implementation of delicate actions. They can be used to convey perspectives on group members’ experiences by implication (without commenting on them directly), by virtue of those members belonging to the category to which a generalisation applies. At the same time, generalisations can misrepresent some individual cases within that category. Using conversation analysis, the article investigates how generalisations are deployed, challenged, and then defended in support group interactions. These analyses identify a tension between utilising the sense-making resources that category memberships afford, and the protection of its members from unwelcome generalisations. Data consist of recorded support-group meetings for people recovering from drug addiction (in Italy) and for bereaved people (in the UK). (Bereavement, conversation analysis, delicacy, drug addiction, generalisation, individuality, membership categorisation, morality, support groups)*

中文翻译：

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具有挑战性的概括：在支持小组互动中利用个性的力量

明确的概括是指将某种特征归因于社会类别的所有成员（例如吸毒者）的陈述。本文研究了在支持小组互动中使用概括所引发的紧张和谈判。泛化是谨慎执行精细动作的实践。它们可用于通过暗示（无需直接评论）来传达对组成员经验的看法，因为这些成员属于泛化适用的类别。同时，概括可能会歪曲该类别中的一些个别案例。使用对话分析，本文研究了泛化是如何在支持小组互动中部署、挑战和捍卫的。这些分析确定了利用类别成员提供的有意义的资源与保护其成员免受不受欢迎的概括之间的紧张关系。数据包括为戒毒者（意大利）和失去亲人的人（英国）记录的支持小组会议。（丧亲，谈话分析，美味，毒瘾，概括，个性，成员分类，道德，支持团体）*