Human praxis as possible innovation for occupational therapy practice: An interpretivist description from people who enact praxis

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Abstract

Introduction: The term 'human praxis' has been referred to in an array of theoretical frameworks: philosophy, institutional change, education, and critical theory. Broadly, human praxis denotes human agency towards personal and collective transformation in the wake of various kinds of constrictions, regardless of external interventions. If occupational therapy can understand the mechanisms of human praxis, it could be used as a potential therapeutic tool leading to the improvement of health and well-being within communities at large.

Method: Eight individuals actively living human praxis participated in semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling, and eligibility criteria based on a description of human praxis synthesized from literature, were employed. Six researchers independently performed a manual qualitative thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews, which served as method triangulation.

Findings: Data analysis revealed that human praxis exists as a dynamic, and recursive two-phase process, consisting of initiators (Theme I), and continuous enablers (Theme II). In addition, seven categories (constituents) emerged from each of the two themes.

Conclusion: Human praxis can be applied in the conscious facilitation of the interdependence between the various constituents such as the individual and the collective, personal and ongoing shared responsibility, and between conditions of constraint and resilience toward self-determination and growth.

 

Keywords: Human agency, recursive, individual collective interdependent

 

 

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Author Biographies

  • Tania Rauch van der Merwe, University of the Witwatersrand
    PhD. Senior Lecturer: Adult Psychiatry, and Research, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Therapeutic Health, Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Jean-Mari Niemann, University of the Free State
    Occupational therapist at Martie Du Plessis special needs school
  • Melicia Muller, University of the Free State
    Occupational therapist at Juliet Shehab Occupational therapists
  • Armunay Gillmer, University of the Free State
    Occupational therapist at Lantern school
  • Roxanne Buschow, University of the Free State
    Occupational therapist at Rita Henn & Partners Inc.
  • Tihani Crous, University of South Africa
    Occupational Therapist at N. Burger Occupational therapy
  • Lindie Basson, University of the Free State
    Occupational therapist at Greymil rehab

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Published

11-12-2021

Issue

Section

Special Edition Evidence informed practice

How to Cite

Human praxis as possible innovation for occupational therapy practice: An interpretivist description from people who enact praxis. (2021). South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(4), 13-21. https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/sajot/article/view/19423
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