Process and Relational Ontology in Enactive Psychiatry
Outonomy: Fleshing out the Concept of Autonomy Beyond the Individual January 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-05501-9_8 via Springer Nature
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMental disorders are not simply brain disorders but emerge from developmental sensorimotor trajectories shaped by embodied interactions and social contexts. From an enactive perspective, cognition is processual and relational, meaning that mental disorders arise from the dynamic interplay between an individual's autonomy and their social environment. This view emphasizes that understanding mental disorders requires considering how a person's embodied experiences and social relationships shape their development over time.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Mental disorders Enactive cognition Intersubjectivity Process ontology Relational autonomy |
| Key finding | Mental disorders are developmental sensorimotor trajectories shaped by embodied interactions and social contexts, rather than isolated brain disorders. |
Abstract
This chapter examines mental disorders from an enactive perspective. It explores two key ontological claims—the processual and relational nature of cognition—and their implications for our understanding of mental disorders. Rather than viewing them as isolated brain disorders, mental disorders are presented as developmental sensorimotor trajectories that are shaped by embodied interactions and social contexts. It highlights the dynamic interplay between an individual’s autonomy and their social environment in the emergence of mental disorders.