Modernism and Postmodernism Overview

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Questions and Answers

What was one promise of Modernism that emerged from the Enlightenment?

Promotion of subjective knowledge over objective truth

Liberation from scientific inquiry

Dependence on superstition and monarchy

Accumulation of value-free knowledge through rigorous research (correct)

How did Modernism interpret the role of language in scientific reporting?

Language is a tool for expressing personal beliefs

Language distorts the truth of scientific findings

Language serves as a barrier to knowledge accumulation

Language is representational and allows for accurate representation of reality (correct)

What critical position did Kuhn argue regarding Modernist assumptions?

Scientific progress is always beneficial

Science lacks rationality and is influenced by values (correct)

Science is inherently objective and value-free

Individuals are always rational decision-makers

What major consequence did Modernism lead to, according to criticisms of its ideology?

A world threatened by environmental crisis and economic inequality Signup and view all the answers

What cultural transformation emerged as a response to the failures of Modernism?

Postmodernism Signup and view all the answers

What does the Modernist perspective primarily focus on in psychological processes?

Internal psychological processes Signup and view all the answers

In Post Structuralism, which of the following is a key concept regarding identity?

Identity can encompass multiple selves Signup and view all the answers

How does language function in the context of reality construction?

It actively creates reality Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best captures the role of clients in a Post Modernist counseling approach?

Clients are positioned as experts of their own experiences Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of understanding language as performative in counseling?

Language performs actions and shapes realities Signup and view all the answers

What does Social Constructionism suggest about cultural interpretive frameworks?

They vary significantly across different cultures Signup and view all the answers

According to the insights gathered from cross-cultural analysis, what is true about mental health across cultures?

Every culture develops its own models to address mental health issues Signup and view all the answers

What role does power play in Post Structuralism's examination of language and discourse?

Power structures shape and influence language and knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Which concept is emphasized in the Modernist approach to counseling regarding change?

Change relies on the practitioner’s judgment Signup and view all the answers

How do language and communication influence individual subjectivity according to the provided content?

They significantly contribute to the formation of one’s identity Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Historical Context

Modernism, beginning with Enlightenment, promised liberation from superstition, monarchy, and religion through science.
Assumed that rigorous research would lead to value-free knowledge.
Assumed that language was representational, making scientific reports accurate accounts of the world.
Assumed individuals were rational and that scientific progress would lead to a better world.
Modernist thinking believed in absolute truth and objective knowledge.
Modernism faced challenges due to nuclear threats, environmental crises, economic inequality, and political injustice.
Kuhn (1962) questioned the rationality and value-free nature of science.
Postmodernism emerged as a response to the failures of the modernist promise.

Modernist Intrapsychic Approach

Focused on internal psychological processes and individualizing problems.
Based on realist thinking, assuming the existence of discoverable ultimate truths.
Problems were considered as internal inabilities, deficits, or distortions.
Change depended on the practitioner's judgment to determine the client's problem's solution.
Encouraged practitioners to interpret and diagnose behavior and develop treatment plans.
The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) exemplifies this approach.

Emphasizes the constructed nature of identity and multiple selves, challenging the idea of a single true self.
Problems are seen as constructed in response to dominant discourse, challenging what is considered normal.
Emphasizes the role of language and discourse in shaping understanding, examining the intersection of power, knowledge, and language.
Views counselling as a political process.
Change involves collaboration between client and therapist, exploring possibilities and preferences.
Privileges the client's local knowledge and expertise regarding the problem and its resolution.

The Role of Language

Language is performative, enacting actions beyond simply conveying meaning (e.g., promises, declarations of love or hatred)
Reality is constructed through language and communication, challenging the idea of an objective truth.
Language plays a key role in constructing identity and subjectivity, influencing self-perception and how others are perceived.
Challenges binary categories and fixed definitions, recognizing the potential for language to reinforce binaries like normal/abnormal or healthy/unhealthy.
For counselling, viewing language as constructed allows for exploring alternative perspectives and meanings.

Language as Multilayered Interaction

Language is not merely a representation of thoughts, feelings, and lives but part of a complex interplay.
The words we choose influence our thinking, feelings, and actions, creating a cycle of influence.
What we say and how we say it significantly impact how we engage with the world.

Acknowledges that different cultures inhabit distinct realities.
Humanness is a sociocultural variable, with diverse ways of being and becoming human across cultures.
Concepts like antibiotics and bridge building are considered universal, while others, like the role of women or the concept of duty, vary across cultures.
Constructed and fundamental realities can feel equally real and solid from within a culture.

Constructionism and Cross-Cultural Mental Health

Every culture experiences mental health symptoms, developing its own models to address them (e.g., spirit possession, mana deficits, the evil eye, Western psychiatry).
Western perspectives often view other models as constructed, making it challenging to view Western psychiatry through the same lens.
Constructed reality doesn't equate to false reality.
Dismissing other cultures due to differing assumptions is problematic.
Understanding the constructed nature of mental illness is crucial for respecting cultural diversity and practicing culturally sensitive counselling.

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Description

Explore the key concepts of Modernism and Postmodernism, including their historical context, challenges faced, and intrinsic psychological approaches. This quiz delves into the fundamental assumptions and critiques that shaped these influential movements in thought.