Constructivism is a psychological theory of emotion that proposes that emotions are not innate, but rather constructed through interactions between a person and their environment. This theory suggests that emotions are created through the process of interpreting and responding to a given situation. Constructivist theory has been used to explain a variety of human emotions, including fear, anxiety, anger, and happiness.
The constructivist theory of emotion was first proposed by the Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky in 1934. Vygotsky argued that emotions are created through an interaction between a person’s past experiences and the current environment. He proposed that emotions are constructed by the individual, rather than being determined by external stimuli. According to Vygotsky, emotions are actively created by the individual, rather than passively experienced.
The constructivist theory of emotion has been further developed by other psychologists. For example, cognitive psychologist Albert Bandura proposed that emotions are created through a process of cognitive appraisal. According to Bandura, individuals evaluate the current situation based on their past experiences and beliefs, and then construct an emotion to match the situation.
The constructivist theory of emotion has been used to explain a variety of psychological phenomena, such as the effects of stress on emotion, the development of emotional intelligence, and the role of emotions in decision-making. Constructivist theory has also been used to understand how emotions can be regulated and how they can be managed in stressful situations.
Constructivist theory of emotion has been widely accepted by the psychological community. It has been used to explain a variety of psychological phenomena and is often used in clinical settings to help individuals understand and regulate their emotions.
References
Bandura, A. (1999). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 50(1), 1-26.
Vygotsky, L.S. (1934). Thinking and speech. In N.A. Rieber, & J.W. Wertsch (Eds.), The collected works of L.S. Vygotsky, vol. 1. (pp. 37-285). New York, NY: Plenum.
Webb, T.L., Miles, E., & Sheeran, P. (2012). Dealing with feeling: A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of strategies derived from the process model of emotion regulation. Psychological Bulletin, 138(4), 775-808.