Which approach emphasizes that reality is constructed through interactions?

The approach that emphasizes that reality is constructed through interactions is social constructivism. This perspective suggests that individuals and groups create meaning together through their interactions, shaping their understanding of the world and their experiences. Social constructivism posits that knowledge is not simply discovered but is constructed from social processes, cultural contexts, and interactions with others.

In social constructivist theory, the individual’s learning and understanding are influenced by the social environment, illustrating how shared beliefs, values, and practices shape one's perception of reality. This contrasts with other approaches, which may focus on objective truths or individual experiences without the same emphasis on the social processes involved in meaning-making.

For example, while realism is concerned with the objective existence of the world independent of human perception, and pragmatism focuses on the practical implications of ideas rather than their objective validity, social constructivism specifically highlights how social interaction and cultural context contribute to the construction of knowledge and reality. Similarly, phenomenology centers on individuals' subjective experiences but does not inherently address the collective nature of reality that comes from social interactions. Thus, social constructivism distinctly captures the essence of how interactions among individuals shape and construct the reality they experience.