Social ConstructionismThis accessible, yet scholarly, textbook aims to introduce students to the area of social science theory and research that has come to be known as social constructionism. Using a variety of examples from everyday experience and from existing research in areas such as personality, sexuality and health, the basic theoretical assumptions of social constructionism are clearly explained. Key debates, such as the nature and status of knowledge, truth, reality and the self are given in-depth analysis in an accessible style. The theoretical and practical issues relevant to social constructionist research are illustrated with examples from real empirical studies, and the different approaches to social constructionist research are clearly defined. While the text is broadly sympathetic to social constructionism, the weaknesses of the approach are also addressed through a critical approach to the material, and in the final chapter the theory is subjected to a more extensive critique. Social Constructionism, Second Edition, extends and updates the material covered in the first edition and will be a useful and informative resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students of psychology, as well as students from related areas such as health, social work and education. |
Contents
What is social constructionism? | 1 |
The case for social constructionism | 28 |
The role of language in social constructionism | 46 |
What is a discourse? | 63 |
Is there a real world outside discourse? | 81 |
Discourse and subjectivity | 104 |
The person in dialogue | 126 |
Social constructionist research | 149 |
Critiquing social constructionism | 178 |
Glossary | 201 |
Suggested further reading | 207 |
211 | |
223 | |
227 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accounts action approach argues assumptions attitudes become behaviour Chapter claim coherent concept concerned conversation analysis critical critical psychology critical realist culture debate deconstruction discursive psychology emotions ethnomethodology example existence experience false consciousness feel forms of social Foucauldian discourse analysis Foucault Gergen Harré homosexual human idea identity ideology implications individual interpretative repertoires interview issues Kenneth Gergen kind knowledge language linguistic lives London Macro social constructionism material meaning micro moral narrative Narrative psychology nature objects Open University ourselves Parker phenomena political possible postmodernism poststructuralism poststructuralist power relations prevailing discourses problem processes produced question realism reality refer relationship relativism represent representations role Sage seen sense sexual social construction social constructionist Social constructionist theory social interaction social practices social psychology social structures society subject positions symbolic interactionism talk theoretical theory things thought tionist tions traditional psychology truth understanding Willig women words