Communicative interaction as a Theory-driven Practice

Theories are Ways of Seeing

Theories are Ways of Seeing Theories direct our attention, organize our experience, and enable action.

Theories are Ways of Seeing Theories direct our attention, organize our experience, and enable action. The theories we bring to a situation partly reveal and partly conceal options for interaction.

Window-Bashing

Window-Bashing Repetitively using an old theory in a situation for which it is not useful.

Window-Bashing Repetitively using an old theory in a situation for which it is not useful. The theories may have been perfectly suited to solve the old problem; but they fail in new situations

Question: Where do theories come from?

Theories are Ways of Seeing Diversity in our implicit theories can be a source of collective intelligence if we have good conflict-communication practices

Theories are Ways of Seeing Diversity in our implicit theories can be a source of collective intelligence if we have good conflict-communication practices But we often fail to recognize and benefit from others’ “ways of seeing.”

Theories are Ways of Seeing Diversity in our implicit theories can be a source of collective intelligence if we have good conflict-communication practices But we often fail to recognize and benefit from others’ “ways of seeing.” And we consent to theories that we didn’t actively create or choose.

Conflict as Theory-Driven Practice

Conflict as Theory-Driven Practice Conflicts arise out of window-bashing scenarios

Conflict as Theory-Driven Practice Conflicts arise out of window-bashing scenarios Conflicts arise when we consent to meanings/theories that aren’t our own and are not in our best interest

Conflict as Theory-Driven Practice Conflicts arise out of window-bashing scenarios Conflicts arise when we consent to meanings/theories that aren’t our own and are not in our best interest Conflicts arise out of clashes between parties with different implicit theories about a given problem

Conflict as Theory-Driven Practice In these cases, we’ll strive to make our theories explicit—and then negotiate potentially new and better theories together.

Conflict as Theory-Driven Practice In these cases, we’ll strive to make our theories explicit—and then negotiate potentially new and better theories together. This is especially important in conditions of rapid change, interdependence, and pluralism