An exploration of the social constructionist paradigm as a possible lens to understand meaning-making around 'emotional' pain

M.A.This study explores social constructionism as a paradigm for looking at emotional pain. Social constructionism has its philosophical underpinnings in postmodernism. In this mini-dissertation pre-modern, modern and postmodern epistemological assumptions are explored. Various views of postmodernism, both its origin and its effect on other spheres are reflected upon. The impact of postmodernism on psychology is explored by tracking the path of cybernetics, constructivism and finally social constructionism. The way emotions and emotional pain is seen through history is explored. By using social constructionism as a paradigm, the meaning making around emotional pain provides another lens for researchers and therapists in dealing with emotional pain