Empowering Marginalized People by Maximizing Reflective Intelligence: A Pragmatist Problem Solving Approach

Abstract

This paper considers how to catalyze marginalized people's thinking by instilling habits to maximize their use of reflective intelligence. Authors explain intelligence from the viewpoint of American pragmatism and present tools that can empower Iranian single mothers in their daily lives. The case of a single mother who participated in an empowerment project in Iran suggests that reflective intelligence is a dynamic process that can be strengthened by using pedagogical tools. The authors present a model of the intelligent method for further evaluation and application in empowerment-oriented social work practice among poor and marginalized groups.