Adding meaning to psychology theory

A new book offers insight into how contemporary social construction theory has developed in the past two centuries.

The book is co-authored by psychology Professor Andy Lock, who coordinates the University's Postgraduate Diploma in Discursive Theories, and Professor Tom Strong from the University of Calgary, Canada.

Professor Lock says Social Constructionism: Sources and Stirrings in Theory and Practice offers an introduction to the different theorists and schools of thought surrounding the study of the socially created nature of human abilities from the resources available to them in their interactions with each other.

He and Professor Strong aim to provoke a wider grasp of an alternative history and tradition that has developed alongside the one emphasised in traditional histories of the social sciences.

“Psychology has generally left out meaning and consciousness when formulating its theories and explanations of human nature," Professor Lock says. "We think it is time this omission was repaired, and we provide a tool-kit of ideas in this book that will help in that task.”

From Italian philosopher Giambattista Vico, in the 18th century, through Marxist writers and Ludwig Wittgenstein to contemporary theorists, the book traces ideas as to how socio-cultural processes provide the resources that make us human.

They will launch the book, published by Cambridge University Press, at a video conference between the universities at 10.30am (NZT) tomorrow.