Social Constructionism

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A Social Constructionism is a theory of knowledge that posits the ways in which individuals and groups participate in the construction of their perceived social reality.

  • Context:
    • It can emphasizes that much of what is perceived as 'reality' is actually a product of social processes and interactions.
    • It can challenges the notion that our understanding of reality is solely based on empirical observation of the physical world.
    • It can highlights the role of language as a crucial tool in the construction of social reality.
    • It can posits that understanding, significance, and meaning are developed through collaboration and coordination among individuals.
    • It can recognizes that social constructs are not universal truths but are contingent upon societal context and can vary across cultures.
    • It can explores how societal norms, values, beliefs, and institutions are created, maintained, and transformed.
    • It can acknowledges that individuals contribute to and are influenced by the collective social narratives and structures.
    • ...
  • Example(s):
    • The construction of Gender roles and norms in different societies.
    • The perception and value of Money as a medium of exchange.
    • The concept of Race and its implications in various cultural contexts.
    • The understanding and practice of Marriage in different cultures.
    • The formation of Nationality and Citizenship and their associated rights and duties.
    • The evolution of Social Class structures and their impact on societal hierarchy and mobility.
    • The development of Language as a means of communication and cultural expression.
    • The shaping of Religious beliefs and practices in diverse social settings.
    • ...
  • Counter-Example(s):
    • Innate biological traits that are not subject to social influence.
    • Natural phenomena that exist independently of human perception or interaction.
  • See: Social Reality, Theory of Knowledge, Sociology, Communication Theory, Rationalization (Psychology), Social Constructivism.


References

2023

2015

  • (Wikipedia, 2015) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/social_constructionism Retrieved:2015-10-2.
    • Social constructionism or the social construction of reality (also social concept) is a theory of knowledge in sociology and communication theory that examines the development of jointly constructed understandings of the world. It assumes that understanding, significance, and meaning are developed not separately within the individual, but in coordination with other human beings. The elements most important to the theory are (1) the assumption that human beings rationalize their experience by creating a model of the social world and how it functions and (2) that language is the most essential system through which humans construct reality. [3]
  1. Boghossian, Paul. “What Is Social Construction?" Philpapers, NYU Arts & Science, 2001.
  2. Gergen, K. Social Construction and the Transformation of Identity Politics, Swarthmore College.
  3. Leeds-Hurwitz, W. (2009). Social construction of reality. In S. Littlejohn, & K. Foss (Eds.), Encyclopedia of communication theory. (pp. 892-895). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.fau.edu/10.4135/9781412959384.n344