Psychology of Action

Abstract

The problem of reflexivity in psychology is generality approached from the perspective of language—be it semiotic, discursive, or narrative theories— which are utilized for the speculation about the meaning and importance of the human capability to reflect on lived experience. In this chapter, I will tackle the problem of reflexivity from a different standpoint, namely from the perspective of German-Scandinavian critical psychology as it was developed over the course of more than four decades first mainly at the psychological institute in Berlin and then later in Scandinavia. From this perspective, reflexivity is inherent to human condition and stems from the concrete self/other relationship in its historical becoming. After showing how reflexivity in the self/other relationship spells out for German-Scandinavian critical psychology, I will show why reflexivity, even though it presents a fundamental human characteristic, is often blocked, suppressed, and excluded in modern society. To do so, I will utilize the concepts of “restrictive possibilities of action” and “generalized possibilities of action” as they were developed in the framework of German-Scandinavian critical psychology. I will show how psychological research and practice can create moments of reflexivity in which humans realize their fundamental interconnectedness and sameness in the face of social restrictions. From this plateau, I want to suggest how collective action can be conceptualized and encouraged.

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