2.4 Social Constructionism

Social constructionism emphasizes how social problems emerge through collective definition and shared meanings. This approach explores how claims-making activities, power dynamics, and framing processes shape our understanding of societal issues.

Cultural relativity plays a key role in problem recognition across societies. By examining how different cultures define and respond to social problems, we gain insights into the complex nature of addressing global issues and developing effective policies.

Understanding Social Constructionism

Social constructionism and collective definition

Top images from around the web for Social constructionism and collective definition

• 

  The Web of Cultural Identity: How we are who we are View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Eight Cultural Forces - The lens & the lever — The Learner's Way View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Introduction to Sociology/Sociological Theory - Wikibooks, open books for an open world View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Web of Cultural Identity: How we are who we are View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Eight Cultural Forces - The lens & the lever — The Learner's Way View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Social constructionism and collective definition

• 

  The Web of Cultural Identity: How we are who we are View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Eight Cultural Forces - The lens & the lever — The Learner's Way View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Introduction to Sociology/Sociological Theory - Wikibooks, open books for an open world View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Web of Cultural Identity: How we are who we are View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Eight Cultural Forces - The lens & the lever — The Learner's Way View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Social constructionism theoretical approach emphasizes social interaction in creating knowledge and understanding
• Central premise posits social problems emerge through collective definition and social processes rather than objective conditions
• Key aspects include shared meanings, interpretations of reality, and cultural and historical context
• Process involves externalization (creating social artifacts), objectivation (perceiving artifacts as external reality), and internalization (adopting socially constructed reality)

Claims-making in problem construction

• Claims-making activities involve public statements or actions defining conditions as problematic to influence perception and policy
• Key actors include media (framing issues, selecting stories), policymakers (legislative proposals, public debates), and social movements (protests, advocacy campaigns)
• Strategies employ typification (characterizing problems as representative), domain expansion (linking to other concerns), and rhetorical devices (metaphors, statistics, emotional appeals)

Power and framing of social problems

• Power dynamics reflect dominant groups' influence in defining problems and access to resources for claims-making
• Discourse analysis examines language and communication in shaping reality (Foucauldian approach)
• Framing processes select aspects of perceived reality to promote specific problem definitions and solutions
• Agenda-setting theory explores media's role in determining important issues and influencing public and policy agendas

Relativity of problems across cultures

• Cultural relativity manifests in varying problem recognition across societies and historical periods
• Policy implications necessitate context-specific approaches and challenge addressing global issues
• Critiques highlight potential for relativism and need to balance constructionist insights with material realities
• Cross-cultural analysis compares problem definition and response across societies (globalization's impact)
• Ethical considerations include claims-makers' responsibility and consequences of problem construction/deconstruction