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Pragmatism and structuralism in occupational therapy: the long conversation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hooper, B; Wood, W
Published in: Am J Occup Ther
2002

The history of occupational therapy may be understood as a continual transaction between two cultural discourses: pragmatism and structuralism. Pragmatism is a way of thinking that presupposes humans are agentic by nature and knowledge is tentative and created within particular contexts. Structuralism is a way of thinking that assumes humans are composites of recurring general frameworks and that knowledge is objective and can be generalized to multiple contexts. Early in the field's history, both pragmatist and structuralist assumptions about the human and knowledge produced different readings, or interpretations, of what constituted the appropriate tools, methods, and outcomes for occupational therapy. Consequently, occupational therapy adopted an interesting mix of pragmatist language regarding the human and structuralist approaches to knowledge, resulting in professional identity problems still experienced today. However, recent developments offer an opportunity for occupational therapists to correct old identity problems through critically evaluating incompatible assumptions and carefully reading the prevailing cultural ethos.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Am J Occup Ther

DOI

ISSN

0272-9490

Publication Date

2002

Volume

56

Issue

1

Start / End Page

40 / 50

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Rehabilitation
  • Professional Competence
  • Practice Management
  • Philosophy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science
 

Citation

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Hooper, B., & Wood, W. (2002). Pragmatism and structuralism in occupational therapy: the long conversation. Am J Occup Ther, 56(1), 40–50. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.56.1.40
Hooper, Barb, and Wendy Wood. “Pragmatism and structuralism in occupational therapy: the long conversation.Am J Occup Ther 56, no. 1 (2002): 40–50. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.56.1.40.
Hooper B, Wood W. Pragmatism and structuralism in occupational therapy: the long conversation. Am J Occup Ther. 2002;56(1):40–50.
Hooper, Barb, and Wendy Wood. “Pragmatism and structuralism in occupational therapy: the long conversation.Am J Occup Ther, vol. 56, no. 1, 2002, pp. 40–50. Pubmed, doi:10.5014/ajot.56.1.40.
Hooper B, Wood W. Pragmatism and structuralism in occupational therapy: the long conversation. Am J Occup Ther. 2002;56(1):40–50.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Occup Ther

DOI

ISSN

0272-9490

Publication Date

2002

Volume

56

Issue

1

Start / End Page

40 / 50

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Rehabilitation
  • Professional Competence
  • Practice Management
  • Philosophy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science