The 9 differences between constructivist and rationalist models

The keys to differentiate rationalist models from constructivist models.

Rationalist and constructivist models share some fundamental characteristics, since they serve as a basis for the formation of cognitive therapies. But, at the same time, there are many characteristics that allow us to distinguish between the two.

In this article we will see the main differences between the rationalist and constructivist models in psychology and behavioral sciences in generalin a summarized way.

Main differences between rationalist models and constructivist models.

Both the rationalist and constructivist paradigms attempt to explain or define what reality is.

Similarly, these two paradigms have given rise to different models that have been used as the basis for the formation of cognitive therapies. have been used as a basis for the development of cognitive therapies for the treatment of different disorders. for the treatment of different disorders.

Despite sharing the cognitive basis, these two paradigms present multiple differences in reference to the way of defining or understanding reality, in the way of assessing and treating, in the role played by therapists, in how they define or perceive disorders or relapses, as well as the different types of cognitive therapies formed from the different theories of each paradigm.

Below we will mention and describe the main differences between the two models and cite some of the cognitive therapies based on one or the other paradigm.

1. Way of understanding reality

Rationalist or objective models, as their name indicates, understand reality as something objective.The reality perceived by one person will be the same as the one perceived by another. Thus individuals have to discover the only possible reality.

In contrast to this, constructivist models are based on the idea that there is no single possible reality. the idea that there is not a single reality, but that it is constructed and invented by each individual, giving rise to multiple realities that can be perceived by each individual.This gives rise to multiple realities that in many cases will be contrary to each other.

2. Role of the subject in the perception of reality

The rational paradigm will see in the subject a passive role, the human being is reactive and responsive, understanding knowledge from the outside in and creating in the individual mental representations as copies of reality.

In this way, there would be a processing of external information without producing modifications of the perceived reality.

On the contrary, the constructivist paradigm will understand a more active role of the subject.In this case, the human being will be proactive and goal-oriented. In this way the particular perception of the reality of each subject will be fundamental for the construction of each reality, conceiving it from inside to outside, so the cognitive structures of the individual are projected to the outside shaping and building their reality.

3. Vision of knowledge

Rationalists understand knowledge as a direct and exact representation of reality, that is to say, they adopt a vision of knowledge as a direct and exact representation of reality.In other words, they adopt a deterministic vision, since they believe that knowledge has only one valid and true meaning, which is reality.

Likewise, they will speak of the knowledge of a single true reality that, as we have already pointed out, the individual must discover, there is only one truth.

For their part, constructivists conceive knowledge as an evolving, interpersonal and proactive process, presenting multiple interpretations and different viable or possible forms of reality.presenting multiple interpretations and different viable or possible forms of reality. Therefore, true knowledge will not be unique but will appear different according to the constructions of each subject and will be evaluated by internal consistency or social consensus. The therapist who adopts a strong constructivist model will understand that truth does not exist as such.

In reference to knowledge, it should also be noted that rationalist models focus exclusively on cognition; on the other hand, constructivist models are also interested in and consider it necessary to work with the emotions and behaviors of the individual.

4. Evaluation method

Regarding the evaluation process rationalists will present and define a more specific diagnosis, centered on the problem presented by the patient and with the the patient's problem and with the main purpose of controlling it.

On the contrary, constructivists will present a more global vision, focused on the processes and development of the individual. That is to say, it will be focused on the individual working and improving his cognitive systems.

5. Treatment and therapeutic style

The rationalist models will have as main objective of treatment to correct and to eliminate the dysfunctions, that is to say, that the dysfunctions disappear.that is to say, that the patient's problem disappears. In order to achieve this goal, the therapist, as the only expert, will show a directive and instructive role, the therapist will be the one who will give theoretical and technical instructions to the subject and will perform a clinical assessment.

Constructivist models, on the other hand, will understand the presence of two experts who collaborate with each other in order to achieve to achieve the goals of the therapy. One of the experts would be the therapist with adequate knowledge of change processes and the patient would be the other expert in knowledge of his or her own life.

The constructivist therapist acts as a support for the client to explore new ways of relating and knowing, helping him/her in the process of reconstructing his/her cognitive system, since this is where the emergence of the problem is situated. In this way the therapy is less structured and more flexible, the main goal of the treatment being to facilitate the development of the subject.

6. Perception of disorders and relapses

Rationalist theories perceive and describe disorders as dysfunctions or deficits.Therefore, the purpose of therapy or intervention will be to control, eliminate or redirect them. Similarly, relapses will be understood as failures in the process of improvement or recovery that should be minimized and avoided, being perceived as dysfunctional patterns that often appear in subjects due to lack of motivation.

On the other hand, constructivist theories conceive disorders as a reflection of limitations produced by discrepancies between the environment and the subject's current developmental capacity.This is why the main purpose of treatment is to help the client's development. Likewise, relapses will also be understood as limitations in the developmental capacity, useful in this way to learn and work with them.

7. How they understand emotions

Rationalist models believe that irrational thoughts (not truthful or not in accordance with reality) cause and generate negative and intense emotions that are interpreted as problems in the subject and therefore it is necessary to eliminate or control them. which are interpreted as problems in the subject and therefore need to be eliminated or controlled.

In contrast, postmodernist or constructivist models perceive and interpret emotions as an opportunity for knowledge; it is necessary to encourage subjects to experience and explore them in order to be able to work and adapt them.

8. Insight vision

The rationalist paradigm will give greater importance to insight, understood as an internal vision.understood as an internal vision. In this way it is necessary the knowledge, the insight, of the irrational beliefs so that an improvement takes place or the subject obtains a change.

On the other hand, the constructivist paradigm will not have such a cognitive vision as the rationalist one and will understand that insight helps in the improvement or development but also needs other emotional and behavioral aspects for change. also needs other emotional and behavioral aspects for change..

9. Types of cognitive therapy according to each model

Rationalist models present cognitive therapies divided into two groups.

First, there is the category of cognitive-behavioral therapies, which in turn will be divided into two groups.which in turn are divided into therapies focused on the training of coping skills (aimed at coping with stressful situations and being able to better manage these feelings) and problem-solving techniques (aimed at training a more organized method of problem solving).

An example of coping skills therapy would be Donald Meichenbaum's stress inoculation training and problem solving would be D'Zurilla and Golfried's Problem Solving Therapy.

Similarly, the other category that constitutes the cognitive therapies is the one formed by the therapies based on cognitive restructuringwhich aims to identify and modify the maladaptive cognitions that provoke and maintain the patient's problem. Aaron Beck's well-known cognitive therapy is an example of this.

In reference to constructivist models, in this case the therapies will be based on constructivism. will be based on constructivism, linguistics and narrativeThe therapies will be based on constructivism, linguistics and narrative, pointing out that it is just as important to treat or take into account emotions and behavior as cognitions. As an example we could cite George Kelly's Personal Construct Therapy.

Finally, intermediate therapies will appear that show characteristics of the two models, both rationalist and constructivist. They are similar to the classical or rationalist models because they use concepts similar to these, such as the terms schemas or distortions, but they are also similar to the constructivist models, since they give more importance to aspects such as emotions, the therapeutic relationship or the joint use of various techniques. An intermediate type of therapy would be Jeffrey Young's Schema-Centered Therapy.