alternativismn.
/ɔːlˈtəːnətᵻvɪz(ə)m/, /ɒlˈtəːnətᵻvɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ɔlˈtərnədɪvɪz(ə)m/, /ɑlˈtərnədɪvɪz(ə)m/ 1. constructive alternativism n. Psychology the theory that reality is subject to as many interpretations as an individual can construct, and thus no representation of reality is absolute or authoritative.
ΚΠ
1955 G. A. Kelly Psychol. Personal Constructs II. xi. 560 The philosophical position of constructive alternativism, the notion that there are many workable alternative ways for one to construe his world.
1979 N. E. Wetherick in N. Bolton Philos. Probl. in Psychol. v. 105 Kelly's..theory of constructive alternativism is the only psychological theory that shows any real grasp of what is required.
1995 Amer. Jrnl. Psychol. 108 292 One of the central features of this approach is the notion of constructive alternativism which suggests that the same event can be construed in an ‘infinite number’ of different ways.
2. The practice or pursuit of an approach or lifestyle which is considered unorthodox or outside of the mainstream. Cf. alternative adj. 5.
ΚΠ
1982 Times Lit. Suppl. 29 Jan. 112/4 He let it be known that he detested the Beatles.., marijuana, political activism and all the other appendages of Alternativism.
1986 Guardian (Nexis) 6 Oct. Judy and her friends from Hereford, managers of a vegeterian [sic] cafe, wallowed in the recreation of the long lost spirit of 1960s alternativism.
1996 Entertainm. Weekly 23 Feb. 68/1 Mainstream arena-rock peers have lately been swept away by the tide of alternativism.
2007 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 May ix. 2/1 The art we're showing..argues for a new kind of alternativism that reacts against the mainstream of the culture.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1955