Review article
https://doi.org/10.21860/j.16.1.5
From meaningful instructions to learned illness: Philosophical perspectives on psychopathology and the dynamics of information
Toma Gruica
orcid.org/0000-0003-0547-5825
; Chair of Classical Phenomenology, Department of Philosophy, University of Graz (Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz), Graz, Austria
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
This paper explores the balance between stability and adaptability in cognitive development, particularly through an enactivist lens, mainly through Piaget's concepts of assimilation and accommodation and Eigen's concept of self-organization. The central idea is that while stability is necessary for cognitive resilience, adaptability is essential for handling new experiences. Psychopathology is examined as a breakdown in this balance, where maladaptive coping mechanisms prevent accommodation, reinforcing negative mental patterns. Disorders like OCD, BDD, and anxiety are discussed to show how fears or negative beliefs can become self-sustaining cycles, leading to entrenched maladaptive behaviors. The text also emphasizes that an accurate self-concept is crucial for mental health, as distorted self-perceptions can fuel psychopathological cycles.
Keywords
Jean Piaget; Manfred Eigen; Enactivism; Cognition; Psychopathology; Genetic Epistemology
Hrčak ID:
344174
URI
Publication date:
6.2.2026.
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