Constructionism or constructivism?

Konstruktivisme i med- og modlys: seminar om vejledningens metoder og praksisCopenhagen, December 11, 2006Heidi Viljamaa

Hello everyone!

Vance Peavy

Kenneth Gergen

Self

Decartes: I think therefore I am

Kelly: I am defined by my “constructs”

Giddens: Self as a reflexive project

Peavy: Self is an evolving configuration of stories, meanings and practices

Gergen: I am linked, therefore I am.

Peavy and Gergen

At least 80% in agreement What is the difference?

Peavy worked with individuals. Emphasis is on a private capacity to make decisions, feel, desire, etc. that is prior to or in principle separate from relationships. Gergen is a social psychologist. Emphasis is on relationship, while individual thinking and decision making are largely viewed as by-products of relationship.

Peavy

“SocioDynamic Counselling is organized around the principle of "self creation." Self, relationships and society are viewed as constructed (co-constructed). Construction takes place through communication, by visualizing what is possible in the future, and by active engagement with others and the material world.”

“Imagine – desire – act is the empowering formula for self-creation and for moving toward goals in life.”

Gergen

“Social genesis of meaning: For anything that is meaningful to us now (important, desirable, worthy of our dedication), there is a history of relationship. Because we have multiple relationships, we also have many different meanings that could be employed in any given situation. New meanings (desires, potentials, interests, and action) can emerge out of new relationships.”

Herminia Ibarra

“Working identity: There is no one perfect career waiting to be discovered. Instead, there are many possible selves we might become—and finding the one that fits is the result of doing and experimenting—trying on possibilities through a process of trial and error."

Practical implications

Peavy: Life-space mapping, starting from where the person is, personal projects, using the imagine – desire –act format. Gergen: For example: ask the individual to name 10 significant persons in his/her life. What would they say 1) about his/her particular skills and talents, and what would each of them 2) view as a promising direction for his/her future. Ibarra: Three-part process of career change 1. Experimenting with new professional activities2. Connecting with new social networks3. Working and re-working the story we tell ourselves and others

about who we are

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