Bricoleurs and Theory-Building Qualitative Research: Responses to Responsiveness

In his extended critique Smedslund suggested that scientific theory and research on psychotherapy are not feasible because (1) people respond to myriad, constantly shifting determinants, and their behavior, (2) evolves in ever-compounding sequences that are not precisely predictable, (3) is never precisely repeated, and (4) is deeply enmeshed in interactions with other people. Instead, he suggests that therapists are and should be bricoleurs, drawing on psychological common sense, which includes knowledge shared by virtue of being human, understandings acquired though language and culture, and personal familiarity with the client.