I want to share some of the learning I experienced this week around "social construction". This is the name of a theory that has been pioneered by Ken Gergen who is a professor at Swarthmore in Philadelphia. Social Construction theory says that each person creates our own reality and "socially constructs" all our experiences through our unique frame or filter. The theory also poses the hypothetical question of reality vs. perception.

When social construction theory is combined with an "Appreciative Inquiry" approach, an intervener or consultant (i.e. your role in your course project) influences the situation simply by asking questions. The way questions are framed influences the answers that are given in response. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) seeks to expand the life-giving forces and amplify the good that is being experienced in a system, an organization, an agency, a relationship or a family.

If this intrigues you as much as it does me, I will be happy to point you to bibliographies that might be helpful to you in exploring these ideas further.

“Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.”.. Albert Einstein

A man who suffers or stresses before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary… Seneca