Occupational Science, Essay Example

Article 1

The main point of this article is to identify the complex relationship between occupational science and occupational therapy as it is practiced today (Pollard et al, 2010). The authors’ have tried to explore how the former can affect the latter and vice versa. The authors’ believe that ‘occupational therapy’ in itself has a clear cut definition, as described by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’. ‘Occupational Science’, on the other hand, is believed by the authors’ to have emerged from the practice of occupational therapy and is a complex blend of contributions; from various social, medical and other sciences. The authors’ have stressed upon the difficulties encountered in the interpretation of occupational science as an entity due to the inherent complexity of its constitution, as well as the limiting factors which compromise its practical application due to multiple constraints existing in multicultural societies. The authors’ have carefully analyzed the emerging role of occupational scientists and stressed upon the fact that it needs to mature as a science and can play a vital role in shaping the way occupational therapy will be practiced in the future.

Article 2

The main point of this article is a challenge to the generally held notion that occupation has simply an individualistic context when observed in a person (Dickie et al, 2006). The authors’ believe it has a more complex innuendo as it occurs and evolves in relation to transactional encounters one experiences during the course of life. By describing the occupational contexts of two persons, the authors have explained how multifarious factors like history, society, economics and political circumstances affect their occupation and the changes occurring with time due to the transactional nature of events occurring in their lives. Based on the concept developed by Dewey, the authors’ contend that the essence of occupation cannot be placed within the individual; rather it depends upon the continuum of transactions with the world that an individual experiences during the course of life. Social relationships, cultural contexts and community actions interplay in a complex fashion to influence a person’s occupational pursuits which the authors feel, the modern occupational scientists’ need to understand.

Article 3

The main point of this article is the stress by the author on the importance of ‘balance’ with particular emphasis on its occupational perspective (Westhorp, 2003). Beginning with an explicit definition of the word ‘balance’ with its multiple dictionary meanings, the author has comprehensively explained how it is understood in its historical, psychological, philosophical and social contexts. She has suggested the manner it should be interpreted in relation to occupational science. Building upon the historical development of occupational therapy as an entity, she has provided a platform on the basis of which balance can be achieved in one’s occupational pursuits in relation to the wider contexts which affect it. She has been successful in graphically depicting the road to occupational balance through a range of interconnected cyclic events dependent upon each other.

 References

Dickie, V., Cutchin, M.P., & Humphry, R. (2006). Occupation as Transactional Experience: A Critique of Individualism in Occupational Science. Journal of Occupational Science, Vol. 13, No 1, pp 83-93.

Pollard, N., Sakellariou, D., & Lawson-Porter, A. (2010). Will occupational science facilitate or divide the practice of occupational therapy?. International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation, 17(1), 40-47

Westhorp, P. (2003). Exploring Balance as a Concept in Occupational Science. Journal of Occupational Science, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp 99-106