Conference Agenda

In this lecture, I am addressing several topics. I will start with the article Angel Buster and I published in the Journal of Constructivist Psychology in 2025 as a commentary on Hermans’ overview article of 33 years of Dialogical Self Theory .

‘Dialogical Self Theory (DST) was conceived in 1992 as an embodied approach to understanding the self and social interactions, and as a way to transcend the Cartesian limitations of individualism and rationalism. Despite early efforts to incorporate embodiment into its conceptual framework, DST has not, in practice, succeeded in doing so. To continue evolving, DST needs to revisit its origins. Through recognizing an embodied self emplaced in a relational reality inseparable from Nature, we move from a purely “mind” conceptualization of the self to one with our feet on the ground, in relationship with living Nature. This ontology could bridge the Indigenous and Taoist worldviews, allowing them to become visible through embodied conscious dialogue.’

The first part is a review – you can read both articles – Hermans’ article “Playing with Positions Seriously”, reimagining the past of DST.

The second part is our – Angel Buster and Rens van Loon – attempt to develop a future view of relationally reembodied DST from an emerging present.

In the last part I will invite you, members of the ISDS, to pick up the challenge and further develop DST in the coming years, first of all through conceptual research.