Betydningsskaping

Betydningsskaping is the process by which individuals or groups interpret and construct meaning from experiences, information, and events. The term is used across disciplines—psychology, sociology, education, organizational studies, health sciences—and focuses on how people translate uncertainty into something understandable and actionable. It emphasizes interpretation, sense-making, and the negotiation of significance within social contexts.

The concept aligns with theories of sensemaking, especially in situations characterized by ambiguity or disruption. Meaning is seen not as a fixed attribute but as an actively produced understanding shaped by prior beliefs, culture, language, and social interaction. It also connects to coping, learning, and resilience, as meaning can guide decisions and behavior.

Processes of betydningsskaping include storytelling and narrative construction, reframing experiences, and integrating new information with existing self-identity and worldviews. It occurs in individuals and in groups, often through dialogue, collaboration, and use of artifacts, symbols, and routines. Social context matters because meaning is co-constructed among participants.

Applications span education, health care, organizational change, journalism, and research. In education, betydningsskaping supports critical thinking and transfer of learning. In health, it helps patients and families cope with illness. In organizations, it aids adaptation during crises and strategic changes.

Critics note that meaning-making can reinforce biases or norms and that interpretations vary across cultures. It remains difficult to measure directly, and ethical considerations arise when guiding individuals toward particular interpretations. Nevertheless, betydningsskaping is regarded as a central process in human experience, shaping action and identity over time.