Postmodernism and its impacts on psychology

APSARA KATUWAL DANGOL

This article is the brief description of the postmodernism concept and its impact on psychology.

Postmodernism is a broad movement that is developed in the mid to late 20th century across philosophy, the arts, architecture, and criticism which marked a departure from modernism.

Before knowing about postmodernism, it is equally essential to understand what made it endorsed.
Premodernism (Begining - the 1650s) is based upon revealed knowledge from an authoritative source.It is assumed that direct revelation came from God. Sources of authority were given to Church and their holders and interpreters.

But in the 1650s, pre-modernism was discouraged. It evolved Modernism (1650s-1950s). It included two concepts. One was empiricism and other was the Epistemological approach.Empiricism helped in the development of modernist methodology. and Epistemological Approach dealt with reason and logic. It focused on Science and reason.Sources of authority were taken by Politics and Universities.

And during the 1950s, Evolution of Postmodernism took place. It advocated for epistemological pluralism which utilizes multiple ways of knowing.It included both pre-modern (revelation) and modern ways (Science and reason).

The impacts of postmodernism in psychology:

1. Changing the faces of contemporary psychotherapies

Postmodernism is changing the face of contemporary psychotherapies. For example, a Narrative therapy which blends social constructivism with personal constructivism to create an understanding of people and therapy. Another example, Contemporary psychoanalysis is apart from earlier approaches of psychoanalysis (Freudian, Object Relations, Self-psychology)  by becoming distinctively postmodern (Hoffman, Hoffman, Robison and Lawrence, 2005).

2. New trends in EBP:
Postmodern themes can be seen in the new trends in Evidence-Based Practice.

3. Development of EVT and EST:

Due to post modernism, psychology developed the Empirically validated Treatment (EVT) and Empirically Supported Treatment (EST) movement which promoted manualized treatment.

4. Encouraged EBP:
President of American Psychological Association, Ron Levant, encouraged EBP. This supported epistemological pluralism. 

5. APA press published books:
Creswell(2002), Tashakkori and Teddlie (1988)and Thomas (2003) helped to seek to integrate qualitative and quantitative research methodology from their books. Eid & Diener (2005) "Multimethod Research" book was published by APA press.

6. Postmodernism on client condition:

Postmodernism highlights the client condition as Rollo May (1991) purports that a leading reason that clients enter therapy today is that of the loss of sustaining Myths but he claims that Myths are not totally false but these things are not proven or cannot be proven.

7. From Eclectic to Integrative therapy

The move from eclectic to integrative therapy is also one of the impacts of postmodernism as eclectic approach lacks depth. so, Schneider proposed an existential-integrative therapy which involves foundation of practice.

8. Responsive on specialization

Postmodernism has responded to specialization as it is important that each subject open to being influenced by other.

About Writer

Apsara Katuwal Dangol, is writer, educator, and psychosocial counselor. She writes articles which covers topics related to general and developmental psychology. She teaches to MA Clinical Psychology students as Developmental Psychology Mentor at Tri-Chandra College, and General Psychology at Shubhashree College of Management.

References:
An Overview of Premodernism, Modernism, and Postmodernism
www.postmodernpsychology.com 
Postmodernism
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism
Understanding Psychology's Diversity in a Postmodern Perspective Theoretical Orientations, Specialities, and the Role of Dialogue
www.postmodernpsychology.com