Academic Scientific JournalsLanguage, communication, observation and coupling in second-order change
Keywords:
change, cognition, communication, language, languagingAbstract
Evidence and research shows that coaching and cognitive therapies bring desired effects to a considerable number of those choosing to undergo the methods they offer. Although these results have been in many instances well documented, still too little, if anything, has been said about the core reasons of this effectiveness. Our claim in this text is that language use plays a pivotal role. Substantiating this view, we found classical models of communication and change inadequate, thus we propose an alternative approach. The new biocognitive perspective allows us to integrate language, communication and change in one model based on an ecological stance. In order to design this model we redefine cognition following Maturana (1980), as an ability to respond to environmental events. This leads us to employ Maturana’s concept of structural coupling (Maturana 1975) and the notion of cognitive domain as well as his understanding of languaging. As a result, we receive a model of communication which might cast more light on the mechanisms behind second-order change.
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