Humanism and Social Constructionism

Abstract

Humanism and social constructionism add depth, nuance and grounding by exploring lived experiences and meanings using mainly qualitative methods. While empathy for the marginalized Other is placed front and centre, humanists focus on depth of understanding for conceptual and theoretical development with a critical eye to connecting the microworlds of everyday experience with the broader social structures that shape and are shaped by those experiences. Thus, while the biomedical sciences collectively focus on producing a COVID-19 vaccine, applying a humanist, social constructionist lens helps us better understand its spread and impacts by interrogating, for example, the roots of social behaviours that contribute to high- and low-risk behaviours and the impacts of risk reduction measures. Why is social distancing and mask wearing practiced more vigorously within some social groups and not others? How groups cope with the uncertainty of COVID-19, including the use of technology, opens a range of methodological and conceptual possibilities for the humanist social constructionist and prompts us to (potentially) rethink foundational concepts like place and therapeutic landscapes.