Constructivist Psychology: A Heuristic Framework

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1992

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Psychologists representing a broad spectrum of psychological specialties use the term "constructivist" to characterize their theories and underscore individuals' active participation in reality-making. In spite of constructivism's apparent widespread influence on psychology, however, significantly different forms of constructivist metatheory may be identified when constructivist assumptions about causal processes are contrasted. Both Pepper's (1942) worldview framework and Aristotle's four-fold classification of causation in natural phenomena are used to distinguish four forms of constructivism-material, efficient, formal, and final. Salient examples of each form as evident in contemporary psychological theory are given with a discussion of implications of these distinctions for the development of a comprehensive conception of cognition and human knowing.

Publication Title

Journal of Mind and Behavior

Volume

13

Issue

1

First Page

89

Last Page

107

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