Mutual learning, as conceptualized by Nora Bateson, is an emergent and co-constructive process wherein individuals or groups engage in a dynamic interplay of sharing, questioning, and exploring perspectives. This process transcends simple knowledge transfer and becomes an intricate dance of reciprocal influence, where each participant’s understanding is reshaped and enriched through the interconnections and relational exchanges with others. Mutual learning thrives on the fluidity of contexts, the complexity of human experience, and the recognition that learning is not a linear transaction but an evolving, systemic interaction. It acknowledges that knowledge is not static but rather a living, co-created entity that continually adapts and grows through intersubjective engagement.

See also: relational process, complex system, systems theory, systems thinking, contextual process