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Short falls of symbolic interactionism
A Social Construction Essay
Psychology review essay
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Social constructionism is a theory of knowledge which reflects the notion of everyday phenomena, objects, science and even reality itself not existing a priori but rather being socially constructed between individuals. Extending this argument, language is considered as the basic means by which social processes take place and reality is re-constructed (Leeds-Hurwitz, W. 2009). The following paragraphs will present the basic premises and assumptions of social constructionism, its historical multidisciplinary roots, a brief criticism of traditional psychology and the application of social constructionism in psychology. The main line of argumentation followed is that social reality and social phenomena are not fixed and do not reflect the character …show more content…
Traces of social constructionism can be found in early sociology texts, like Mead’s Mind, Self and Society (1934) where the definition of “symbolic interactionism” was founded. Symbolic interactionism first introduced the idea of people shaping their and others’ identities through everyday processes of social interaction. Quoting Burr (1995), a major influence on the domain of social constructionism is Berger and Luckmann’s (1966) The Construction of Social Reality. Turning against essentialist accounts of social reality, they argued that all social phenomena are co-influenced, managed and sustained through social practices. Externalization, objectification and internalization are the major processes through which social reality is sustained. For example, one might come up with an idea (such as an idea that spirits exist), which s/he will externalize by writing it or by telling a story. This idea will spread through society and will become a topic of discussion, a social “object” which entails a truth of its own, distant from the subjectivity of human beings (objectification). This social object will then be internalized as natural, as ever-existing and part of the world (internalization). Following this example, all practices are socially constructed and are also made to appear as …show more content…
Furthermore, a brief criticism of traditional psychology was illustrated, where its negative points were stressed. These consist of the discipline’s withdrawal from any historical, political and cultural context, as well as the positivistic, individualistic and empiricist approach to knowledge. However, despite its negative characteristics as a methodological approach, social constructionism has much to offer in the discipline of psychology. There is an opportunity to see people not as experimental subjects but as social and dynamic beings, whose issues derive not from inner malfunctions but from social processes, while giving emphasis on matters of power relations and on the active ability of language to construct versions of reality. Thus, the social constructionist approach opens the field for a psychology that will act in favor of and not as a tool against humanity, actively engaging in the struggle against inequality and the violation of human
Social science deals with a case study that gives the evidence regarding the beliefs of the researcher. The Milgram study is well-known in psychology. Milgram first began one study in 1961 after the Holocaust time period because he wanted to figure out if individuals were capable of harming others to being obedient to authority. The paper will summarize the study itself and how it was conducted. The writer will give explanation of the results, if the findings were unexpected, what transpired the meaning of the results, and Milgram’s conclusion of the study. There will be an explanation regarding the concept of how situationism applies to Milgram’s case study. Furthermore, this paper will discuss if there is a belief that the results of
Rationalism and empiricism were two philosophical schools in the 17th and 18th centuries, that were expressing opposite views on some subjects, including knowledge. While the debate between the rationalist and empiricist schools did not have any relationship to the study of psychology at the time, it has contributed greatly to facilitating the possibility of establishing the discipline of Psychology. This essay will describe the empiricist and rationalist debate, and will relate this debate to the history of psychology.
... construction works within society, which is that, a person witnesses another 's actions of thoughts on a certain thing. The more they see this type of thought towards said thing, the more they recognize it and assume that they must have the same thought on that subject. (Mizruchi, Fein. 2)
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a psychologist and analyze how their theories impact society in general. Sigmund Freud, one of the most recognized names in psychology to date, had developed some eccentric theories that many scientists still accept as having some factual basis. His theories on hypnotherapy, psychosexual development, and defense mechanisms gives people the ability to control and predict their future behavior. These theories, being recognized as some of the most remarkable and influential, have transformed a generation of free thinkers and scientists. His ideas have paved the way to what is now universally known as the field of psychology.
The study of psychology began as a theoretical subject a branch of ancient philosophy, and later as a part of biological sciences and physiology. However, over the years, it has grown into a rigorous science and a separate discipline, with its own sets of guidance and experimental techniques. This paper aims to study the various stages that the science of psychology passed through to reach its contemporary status, and their effects on its development. It begins with an overview of the historical and philosophical basis of psychology, discusses the development of the various schools of thought, and highlights their effects on contemporary personal and professional decision-making.
Social constructionism was the theory described by Joel Best that explains how things in life become controversies or problems. The ways in which society thinks about situations and uses categories to analyze events in the world structures experiences and understandings of these events. Humans look at events beyond an objectivist approach, and instead subjectively, affected by the framework in which one lives. The social constructionist theory can be used to look at the relationship between science and the people that it serves, illustrated in Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
The Social Construction Theory is defined as the event of individuals and or groups perceive real life events and objects and put a meaning to them. Social construction is an ongoing process and views can be modified because the concept is relying upon the communication from one person to another and different people can interpret things differently. One way society has constructed ideas is with animals. Throughout history people have created stories using animals as characters and those stories were passed down from generation to generation. Those stories can influence how people feel about the actual animals.
Social constructionism can been seen as a part of the postmodern ideology, the concept behind the postmodern concept is that reality stresses and builds upon worldviews by individuals in a dialectic interaction with society at a time. Dialectical interaction with society at given point in time. This theory assumes that knowledge is not developed within the individual. This theory assumes that human beings rationalize their experiences and knowledge by forming a model of the functioning social world, this theory also assumes language is the most important aspect by which they construct reality. Several theorists talk about the concept of religion as not being cultural or universal but has emerged because of historical and political conditions.
how we were raised, what believes that were instilled into us and how other might view or perceive us. This matters in the study of social problems, because it allows us to understand the individual or group of people. An example of something that is socially constructed is a wealthy man purchases organic locally grown fish food for his pet fish, when he checks out the cashier, who makes $6 an hour makes note the man is spending $50 on fish food and thinks to themselves, WOW! This fish is going to eat better than me. The man thinks to himself, I am taking great care of my fish and everyone should feed their fish this food. The cashier thinks, his man is wasteful with his money and has no sense of
The term social construction is the understandings childhoods are not the same everywhere and that while all societies acknowledge that children are different from adults, how they are different and what expectations are placed on them, change according to the society in which they live and what culture they are born in to. Every individual child goes through emotional changes that occur between birth and adolescence. A Childs development is impacted by the environment and nurture during this course. For example having both parents can add stability to the child’s life which encourages a healthy development. As opposed to being raised by one working parent who can’t provide the child with the same amount of time a two parent family can which some may argue impacts the child’s progression. Social construction of childhood and youth is how culture dictates the way people act and treat children and the way this impacts their adulthood. Ideas about children and childhood
Sigmund Freud was a very intriguing man; his philosophies and ideas have contributed in today’s medical as well as mental practices in various ways. Freud was a trendsetter when it came to psychoanalytic, and his theories as well as his practices changed the world of psychology, and some of his ideas may have caused controversy in the public views yet it doesn’t change the fact that Freud open the doors to future psychology professionals in abundance. In this paper I will discuss Freud’s Origins and education. I will also summarize his career on the development of psychoanalysis. Last but not least I will discuss his theories that have fallen out of favor with many modern psychologists as well as my believes in why did it occurred?
The psychological genre as it relates to sociological and medicinal matters has gained an increasing amount of scientific approval. Impartiality and the scientific method are both integral components to a psychologist’s mode of practice. However, even the most esteemed of psychologists can only speculate at what makes human beings act the way they do. Absolutes play no function in psychology. Everything is relative and open to conjecture. Theologians give us their visions or thoughts about life. In the field of psychology, there have been many different regions of interest and speculation.
The question of what social psychology actually is, is not something that is easy to answer as it has been regarded as a diverse and fragmented discipline that is divided by the battle between experimental and critical social psychology. This is based on whether it should be a science or not, the ideology and what constitutes the social world (Rogers,). It is regarded as an umbrella discipline in which many sub-disciplines sit under including biological, clinical and organisational. (Myers,) Many social psychologists argue that social psychology is a scientific study that investigates how others influence thoughts, behaviour and feeling (Hogg & Vaughan,). Theses are the experimental psychologists who try to find a cause effect relationship between two variables by testing hypotheses, whilst ensuring that all variables are operationalized in order to gain results that are valid and there are no confounding variables. They do this whilst in a controlled laboratory environment ensuring that no other factors could play a part and act as a confounding variable. Critical psychology on the other hand would argue that the scientific method to measure behaviour is not the only method that can be used. It argues that the scientific method if often unsuitable for studying certain aspects of peoples ...
This essay is going to describe in depth and detail the theories of Sigmund Freud's psycho dynamic approach. The strengths and weakness as an evaluation of Sigmund Freud's work. A summary and evaluation of the cognitive perspective as an alternative of human behaviour will also be identified in this essay.
When comparing the work of Sigmund Freud and Jean Piaget two things come to mind, they both had a lasting and profound impact on the field of psychology and both received a great amount of criticism regarding their theories. Freud is considered the founder of psychoanalysis, which is based on childhood development and psychosexual stages. Piaget was the top developmentalist of the 1960s and 1970s. His theory of cognitive development was as well studied as Freud's theory of psychosexual development was a generation before. While they both had many criticisms of their work, both Freud and Piaget influenced their respective fields of psychology so much that today their thoughts and concepts are still studied and referenced everyday. Freud’s theories have revolutionized how we think. The impact Piaget has had on developmental psychology has guided social norms of human development and education. This essay will compare and contrast the theories of Freud and Piaget.