What term describes the idea that a person's experience shapes the way they think about a situation?

The term that describes the idea that a person's experience shapes the way they think about a situation is social constructionism. This theoretical perspective posits that individuals construct meaning and understanding through their interactions and experiences within a social context. Essentially, it suggests that our perceptions of reality are influenced by the cultural and social frameworks we are a part of. Our past experiences, social interactions, and the societal norms we encounter shape how we interpret events and situations.

Understanding social constructionism is particularly valuable in the context of therapy because it emphasizes the role of narrative and context in how clients view their problems. It supports the idea that different individuals may have vastly different interpretations of the same situation based on their unique experiences and backgrounds, highlighting the importance of context in therapeutic settings.

In contrast, behaviorism primarily focuses on observable behaviors and the responses to stimuli, which doesn't directly address the shaping of thought by personal experience. Cognitive dissonance relates more to the discomfort felt when holding conflicting beliefs rather than how experiences shape thoughts about situations. Psychodynamic theory concentrates on unconscious motivations and past experiences' influence on behavior but does not specifically frame this in the social construction of meaning.