How do we make meaning out of experience? How can experiences shift meanings we make of them?

How do we make meaning out of experience? How can experiences shift meanings we make of them? Informative and transformative learning play key roles.

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Each of us has 'frames of reference' which we view and experience things. These 'glasses' are ways of knowing and making sense. Like: habits, opinions, assumptions, expectations.

Our frames of reference are complex and include cognitive (how we think); inclinations; and emotions. These are messy webs of socialization (e.g. families, friends, media, schooling, etc.) - plus..

… how each individual chooses to act upon, be impacted by, and potentially change or shift socialized and reinforced norms.

Jack Mezirow, who developed a theory of “transformative learning” believed that our 'frames of reference' are composed of two dimensions: "habits of mind" and "points of view".

"Habits of mind" are broad, abstract, orienting, habitual ways of thinking, feeling and acting influenced by assumptions & quick judgements.

These are like a set of codes, and are deeply embedded.

Codes can be cultural, social, educational, economic, political, and psychological.

Habits of mind become articulated in specific points of view—"the constellation of belief, value judgment, attitude, and feeling that shapes a particular interpretation."

Think of 'table manners'; how to be a good kid in school; who were considered acceptable friends; "everybody line up and don't budge", and so on.

Habits of mind are developed early in life; socialized in. They shape and form ethics (e.g. sense of right and wrong), aesthetics (e.g. tastes, standards, etc.), languages, philosophies, and so on.

These are more permanent parts of our glasses- the frames.

They 'frame' our points of view' and hold the lenses in our glasses.

The lenses, are our more immediate assumptions, judgments, emotions, attitudes, beliefs and so on. Without 'reflecting' upon how our lenses direct our views; they can filter the world we see/feel in rather arbitrary ways.

We tend to make decisions based on paths of least resistance, when we just view things through our lenses- our points of view.

Combine the frames and lenses, habits of mind and viewpoints and consider ethnocentrism:

"the predisposition to regard others outside one’s own group as inferior. A resulting point of view is the complex of feelings, beliefs, judgments, and attitudes we have regarding specific individuals or groups."

(for example, those experiencing homelessness, those of diff cultures, diff gender, sexual preference, etc.).

When different viewpoints call our 'frames of reference' into question; many of us react with disdain, anger, dismissive (e.g. with emotion).

Yet, experiences such as travel, crisis, different cultures, and sometimes education, can cause our 'frames of reference' to become a little more soft and malleable; open to change and difference; and slower to jump to conclusions.

What do you think of the 'frames of reference' as a metaphor?

Others?