What is it about?
This paper begins to develop a new way of thinking about mental disorder. The way of thinking presented is grounded in a particular understanding of how the mind works called '3e Cognition' (or sometimes 'Embodied Enactivism'). 3e Cognition emphasizes that we are 'embodied' (i.e. physical/biological creatures), embedded (i.e. strongly influenced by our physical, social, and cultural environments), and 'enactive' (we enact/generate meaning and values that are real, not just illusory). This paper first looks at some of the existing systems for classifying mental disorder and looks at how these systems conceptualize mental disorder. It then overviews 3e Cognition and discusses why it is a useful perspective to take. Finally the beginnings of the new framework are presented and evaluated.
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Why is it important?
This paper is important for multiple reasons: 1. Mental disorders represent a huge level of suffering, impairment, and cost to both individuals and society. 2. Currently our ways of thinking about and labeling mental disorders are very limited. We need to do better. 3. This research brings together two separate fields that are very relevant to each other but have for the most part been moving in parallel to each other; 3e Cognition/Embodied Enactivism, and conceptual work around the nature of mental disorder.
Perspectives
This paper is a first step in a wider PhD project to explore the implications of 3e Cognition for our understandings of mental disorder. We are aiming to develop a conceptual framework that balances the needs of mental health researchers (clarity, rigor, accuracy, the ability to manage complexity), with the needs of mental health clinicians (recognition of individual needs, values, cultures). A related plain text publication can be found here: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@future-learning/2018/08/20/200232/a-few-questions-about-mental-disorders Information regarding the wider project, alongside pre-prints of further work, can be found here: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Implications-of-3e-Cognition-for-our-Understanding-of-Psychopathology
Dr Kristopher Nielsen
Victoria University of Wellington
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Towards a new conceptual framework for psychopathology: Embodiment, enactivism, and embedment, Theory & Psychology, November 2018, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0959354318808394.
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