“Therefore, the focus of research moves from the world that consists of matter to the world that consists of what matters”
The question of subjectivity and the creation of meaning is one of enormous importance to the field of mental health. In this context, consider the following Frequently Asked Question from the website of Constructive Foundations (an interdisciplinary journal):
“What are the constructivist approaches? The common denominators of constructivist approaches can be summarized as follows:
- Constructivist approaches question the Cartesian separation between the objective world and subjective experience;
- Consequently, they demand the inclusion of the observer in scientific explanations;
- Representationalism is rejected; knowledge is a system-related cognitive process rather than a mapping of an objective world onto subjective cognitive structures;
- According to constructivist approaches, it is futile to claim that knowledge approaches reality; reality is brought forth by the subject rather than passively received;
- Constructivist approaches entertain an agnostic relationship with reality, which is considered beyond our cognitive horizon; any reference to it should be refrained from;
- Therefore, the focus of research moves from the world that consists of matter to the world that consists of what matters;
- Constructivist approaches focus on self-referential and organizationally closed systems; such systems strive for control over their inputs rather than their outputs;
- With regard to scientific explanations, constructivist approaches favor a process-oriented approach rather than a substance-based perspective, e.g. living systems are defined by the processes whereby they constitute and maintain their own organization;
- Constructivist approaches emphasize the “individual as personal scientist” approach; sociality is defined as accommodation within the framework of social interaction;
- Finally, constructivist approaches ask for an open and less dogmatic approach to science in order to generate the flexibility that is needed to cope with today’s scientific frontiers.”
You can read more here.
