What is social constructionism? How does it challenge the mainstream psychology?

Defining Social Constructionism

At its core, social constructionism argues that knowledge is not discovered but constructed. This construction happens through social processes like language, discourse, and shared experiences. It doesn’t deny the existence of a material world, but it asserts that our understanding and interpretation of that world are fundamentally shaped by social and cultural factors. Key figures associated with this perspective include Kenneth Gergen and Rom Harré.

Core Principles of Social Constructionism

• Historical and Cultural Specificity: Meanings are not universal; they vary across time and cultures. What is considered ‘normal’ or ‘pathological’ is context-dependent.
• Language as Constitutive: Language doesn’t simply describe reality; it actively creates it. The words we use shape how we perceive and understand the world.
• Social Negotiation of Meaning: Meaning is not inherent in objects or events but is negotiated through social interaction.
• Multiple Realities: Because meaning is constructed, there isn’t one single, objective reality, but rather multiple, socially constructed realities.
• Emphasis on Discourse: Discourse (ways of talking and thinking about things) plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the world.

Challenging Mainstream Psychology

Social constructionism presents a significant challenge to several core tenets of mainstream psychology:

1. The Notion of an Objective Self

Traditional psychology often assumes a stable, internal ‘self’ that exists independently of social context. Social constructionism, however, argues that the self is not a pre-existing entity but is constructed through interactions with others and the internalization of social narratives. Our sense of self is a product of the stories we tell ourselves and others about who we are.

2. Universal Psychological Processes

Mainstream psychology frequently seeks to identify universal psychological principles that apply to all humans, regardless of culture. Social constructionism challenges this assumption, arguing that psychological processes are culturally embedded and vary significantly across different societies. For example, the experience and expression of emotions like grief or shame are heavily influenced by cultural norms.

3. The Search for Underlying Causes

Traditional psychology often focuses on identifying underlying causes of behavior, such as biological predispositions or unconscious drives. Social constructionism, in contrast, emphasizes the importance of understanding the social context in which behavior occurs. It shifts the focus from ‘why’ people behave in certain ways to ‘how’ their behavior is shaped by social interactions and cultural norms.

4. The Medical Model of Mental Illness

The medical model views mental illness as a disease with biological causes and emphasizes the need for medical treatment. Social constructionism critiques this model, arguing that definitions of ‘mental illness’ are socially constructed and reflect societal values and power dynamics. What is considered ‘abnormal’ is often determined by cultural norms and can change over time. For example, homosexuality was once classified as a mental disorder but is now widely accepted as a natural variation in human sexuality.

Comparison with Mainstream Psychology

Feature	Mainstream Psychology	Social Constructionism
Focus	Universal principles, objective reality	Social processes, constructed reality
Self	Stable, internal entity	Socially constructed, fluid
Knowledge	Discovered through scientific inquiry	Created through social interaction
Mental Illness	Disease with biological causes	Socially defined, culturally relative

The impact of social constructionism extends to therapeutic practices. Narrative therapy, for instance, directly applies social constructionist principles by helping individuals re-author their life stories and challenge dominant cultural narratives that may be contributing to their distress.