Constructivist Psychology and Buddhist Thought: An Educational Analysis

The core of constructivist psychology is the concept of the construction of knowledge through experiential processes, cognition, and social interactions rather than the reception of knowledge through passive exposure to the external world. In this sense, Buddhism also suggests that knowledge, identity, and perception of individuals arise through conditioned and experiential ways. The current paper presents the findings of a literature review and educational analysis about the association between constructivist psychology and Buddhist philosophy. This research analyses the ideas of constructivist theories and philosophies in relation to their educational relevance in association with Buddhist psychology and philosophy. The main findings show that both traditions stress experiential learning, critical reflection, learner-oriented instruction, and transformative growth. It seems possible to integrate Buddhist perspectives with constructivist learning theories in order to develop a more comprehensive approach to teaching and learning, which includes elements of self-reflection, emotional regulation, ethics, and critical thinking.