Whose Constructions Are Being Corroborated? A reply to Mascolo and Kallio's 'The Phenomenology of Between'. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Strong, Tom
• Is Part Of: Journal of constructivist psychology. Volume 33:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Personal construct theory -- Periodicals; Constructivism (Psychology) -- Periodicals; 150.1985
• DOI: 10.1080/10720537.2019.1635926
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1072-0537

Abstract

Abstract : In their article, Mascolo and Kallio invite readers conceptually and empirically to an intersubjective, or "phenomenological between." This response examines a particular aspect of their theorizing: conceptual corroboration. The word corroboration seemed too strong, invoking a kind of realist empiricism to which constructivist psychology provides an important alternative. However, the focus on intersubjectivity is welcomed given how much intersubjectivity is underemphasized in constructivist psychology. Drawing on indexicality (from ethnomethodology), social processes "commensuration, " and Kelly's notion of words as hypotheses, it is suggested that conceptual corroboration might be alternatively understood as a negotiation of "perspicuous representations."