Gør tanke til handling Craft-psychology

-New Perspectives on
VIA University College

Crafts and Health

promotion

Anne Kirketerp, BA Craft,

(BA), (MA) Psych, Ph.D.
Free Scientist
Craft-psychologist
www.annekirketerp.dk

anne@annekirketerp.dk
CRAFT-PSYCHOLOGY

Meaning-
lessness
WELLBEING
Competenc
RELATEDNES
e
S

Calmness

CAPACIT
Y
 What is Craft Psychology?
Craft-Psychology  - The psychology behind people's
passionate commitment to the creation of something
material, where both the process (activity) and the
product are the reward.

Craft-Psychology – Is the scientific identification of the

psychological effects of performing craft and it opens
up opportunities, to consciously promote wellbeing as
well as counteract mental suffering.
 Exciting research in Craft and health
promotion

What happens to people when they make crafts? What happens mentally and physically?

Groth, C., & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, P. (2016): How Can Neuroscience Help Understand Design and Craft Activity? The Promise of Cognitive Neuroscience in Design
Studies. Formakademisk 9, no. 1 1–16.
Corkhill, B., Hemmings, J., Maddock, A., & Riley, J. (2014). Knitting and Well- being. Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture, 12(1), 34–57.

Groth, C., Mäkelä, M. & Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, P. (2013). Making sense - what can we learn from experts of tactile knowledge? FORMakademisk Journal, 6(2), 1–12.
 
Kouhia , A. (2012) , ' Categorizing the meanings of craft : A multi-perspectival framework for eight interrelated meaning
categories ' Techne Series: Research in Sloyd Education and Craft Science A , vol. 19 , no. 1 , pp. 25-40 .
 
Kouhia, A. (2016): Unraveling the meanings of textile hobby crafts. Ph.d. afhandling.
 Two-axes diagram of the health benefits of crafts
Recreative
(following a pattern or
copying others’ work)

1.) Working on an 4.) Working with others on a

individual project, using a
pattern or recipe
e.g. One person sewing a
cross stitch picture from a
chart.
Individual
2.) Individually designing
and making something new
e.g. Inventing and making a
vegan dessert using local,
seasonal ingredients
group project, using an agreed
patter
e.g. Making a communal quilt, to a
traditional design, with each person
sewing a bloc
Social
3.) Working with others to design,
and make something new. e.g. A
group of gardeners turning a piece
of wasteland into a communal
garden.

Creative
(working with own designs)

Kirketerp, (2020). Bukhave, Creek & Kirketerp In press

 Health benefits of craftwork
A systematic review of almost 400 articles linking craft and health promotion
(Kirketerp, 2020)  
1. Reduces stress and lowers blood pressure
2. Reduces depression and anxiety
3. Relieves mental illnesses, such as anorexia and
schizophrenia as well as addiction
4. Slows down the progress of dementia in the early stages
5. Removes the focus from chronic pain and cancer
6. Increases wellbeing
7. Stimulates neuroplasticity
8. Increases muscle strength and mobility
9. Reduces loneliness and social isolation.
Kirketerp. A.: (2020). Craft-psykologi Sundhedsfremmende effekter ved håndarbejde og håndværk. Forlaget Mailand
 Different meanings of craft making
Functional
Aesthetic
Expressive

Health
Collaborative promotion
Material

Historic
Sensoric

Model developed from: Kouhia, A. (2012). In Kirketerp (2020)

CRAFT-PSYCHOLOGY

Meaning-
lessness
WELLBEING
Competenc
RELATEDNES
e
S

Calmness

CAPACIT
Y