Epistemological Diffractions: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and the Limits of Reflexivity in Ethnography

This research presents a critique of reflexivity in ethnography based on my personal experience of being diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and conducting ethnography during my doctoral studies. Literature shows that sensory processing in OCD can amplify stimuli or result in distrust of the senses, often leading to discomfort or distress. This different sensory and emotional experience challenges the ethnographic process, which requires the researcher’s immersion in the material dimensions of everyday life. While traditional reflexivity focuses on the self-analysis of sensory and cognitive biases in relation to a normative standard, in this contribution – following the path illuminated by Enrico Petrilli in his studies on nightlife – I employ Karen Barad’s neo-materialist and feminist perspective, which transcends the subject-object dichotomy, suggesting that both emerge together through intra-actions. The application of this method involves re-examining the material produced during my doctoral research on the many facets of social distancing on public transport, considering the sensory and emotional alterations associated with my condition as epistemic opportunities, as part of the intra-action process that co-constitutes the subject (the researcher) and the object of study. By exploring how a researcher with divergent sensitivities perceives the field and navigates methodological and analytical processes, this work highlights the role of embodied, lived experiences in shaping knowledge. The diffractive approach calls for greater epistemological inclusivity, challenging normative models of objectivity and recognizing neurodivergence as a resource for generating knowledge. This shift promotes a broader understanding of how perception and cognition contribute to the co-construction of research findings and offer alternative perspectives on the spaces and practices we study.