Assimilation Theory and the Essence of Constructivism

The assimilation model is a theory of psychological change. But is it a constructivist theory? To address this question, this article considers whether and how it embodies each of five basic themes that have been characterized as constituting the essence of constructivism. These include active agency, order, self, social-symbolic relatedness, and lifespan development. Assimilation theory and research have addressed each of these themes, and they share constructivism’s focus on human experience and agency in all their richness, depth, and variety. So, by that assessment, it seems to qualify as constructivist. On the other hand, unlike other approaches that are considered constructivist, it is reductionistic, holding that human experience corresponds to neuronal activity.