Modernism Vs. Postmodernism

Question 1

Modernism sits in what timeframe?

Answer 1

Prior to 1980s

Question 2

Postmodernism sits in what timeframe?

Answer 2

1980s on

Question 3

Describe Modernism (3)

Answer 3

1. Absolute truths/universals: families operate according to implicit laws of interaction
2. Interest in cognitive sciences
3. Therapist was a technical expert who could diagnose and repair family systems

Question 4

Describe Postmodernism (3)

Answer 4

1. Reality is socially constructed; meaning emerges from interactions between people
2. Interest in semiotics, hermeneutics, narrative, and linguistics
3. Science is a product of one’s perspective, as well as a dominant discourses in culture.

Question 5

Postmodern views (3)

Answer 5

1. Constructivism: The idea that human experience is fundamentally ambiguous
2. Meanings are assigned
3. Challenges essentialism (things are the way they are because that’s natural) and authoritarianism
4. Neither therapist nor client has a corner on truth

Question 6

What is social constructivism?

Answer 6

taking constructivism one step further, looking at the cultural influences on how we construct reality

Question 7

Who coined the term social constructivism?

Answer 7

Lynn Hoffman

Question 8

What are the 5 main constructivist models?

Answer 8

1. Inventive Questioning (Tomm)
2. Reflecting Team (T. Anderson)
3. Collaborative Language Systems (Anderson and Goolishan)
4. Solution-Focused Therapy (De Shazer and Berg)
5. Narrative Therapy (White and Epston)