Joy as Method: New Ways of Conceiving Participatory Methodologies

Abstract

This article explores new ways of conceiving participatory methodologies through the intersection of Latin American critical thought, recent advances in social neuroscience, and concrete experiences of community engagement. The proposal is articulated around the concept of Joyful Enactivism, understood as an ethical, epistemic, and methodological perspective that recognizes participation, affectivity, and meaning co-construction as central dimensions of knowledge. The work draws on the contributions of Paulo Freire, Orlando Fals Borda, Francisco Varela, Lisa Feldman Barrett, Michael Tomasello, Ezequiel Di Paolo, Hanne De Jaegher, and Muniz Sodré to support an understanding of knowledge as a relational, situated, and culturally embodied phenomenon. In this framework, joy is not viewed as a fleeting emotion, but as an affective disposition that facilitates openness, collaboration, and the regeneration of social ties. Based on practical experiences in Latin American community contexts, the article systematizes six methodological devices that activate these dimensions through collective work: Collective Imaging, Collective Creativity, Gift and Reciprocity, Collaborative Action, Participatory Design, and Exploration of Possibilities. These practices help to transform participatory methodologies into living experiences that foster cooperation, social imagination, and collective commitment. As such, the article offers tools for rethinking research and educational practices in a sensitive and situated manner, promoting methodologies that not only gather the voices of communities but walk alongside them in the construction of possible futures.