Dialogue, Monologue, And Boundary Crossing Within Research Encounters: A Performative Narrative Analysis (Report‪)‬

Boundaries, as described by Frank (2004), are cultural conventions that separate what is close--on "our side" of the boundary--from what is distant and potentially unapproachable, risky, and problematic. As such, boundaries are partly about distancing practices that have consequences. Indeed, our side of the boundary means us (insiders) as opposed to the Other (outsiders), and crossings such boundaries may pose risks and lead to various problems. Boundaries, therefore, matter. This view has also been taken on board by sport and exercise psychology professionals who, in both research and applied work, operate within and across boundaries. For example, talking about sports injury, Brewer and Petitpas (2005) signaled that boundaries and the ways psychologists may, in certain circumstances, overstep them are of some relevance to the field of sport and exercise psychology in terms of professional relationships, ethics of helping, and respect. Likewise, in his work on sex between a sport psychologist and an athlete, Anderson (2005) drew attention to the issue of "merging with the other" so boundaries dissolve and the ethical dilemmas this raises for both the psychologist and athlete. Similarly, Burke's (2005) work on sports team communication highlighted how issues of boundaries can play a key role in sport and exercise psychology research and practice. To give a flavor of this, consider first the following exchange between Burke (KB) and a coach named Norman.