Discursive Flashcards
How does DP critique cognitivism?
Cognitivism assumes a true consistent inner cognitive process, i.e. what people say is reflective of their cognitive process- it provides a window into someone mind and represents the type of person that they are.
What is wrong with that?
Cognitive processes are intrinsically unobservable
It detracts from examining how people use language within social life
DP
What people are doing with language
HOW people use language
Materialistic view of language combined with the empiricism of conversation analysis
Billig’s rhetorical take on attitudes
Positioning oneself on one side of the debate, taking a stance in controversy, blaming someone, refusing something, defended themselves.
Perhaps positioning something as a fact to convince someone or make it more believable, detract and undermine from other opinions. Is there something to gain?
is the speaker taking responsibility, or perhaps shifting responsibility onto another person.
Attitude is a STANCE IN CONTROVERSY not an internal schema- they are positioning themselves on an issue of debate.
What people were doing when they claimed to be giving opinions or attitudes in conversational discussions
IMPORTANT- this is rather than the traditional approach that people will always respond the same to stimuli regardless due to fixed cognitive structures. DP suggests that there will be VARIABILITY in what people say, people are doing different things with their talk when they speak on different occasions and in interactional contexts.
Discursive action model
Action- fact and interest- accountability
Action- refusing
What they are DOING with their language; refusals, blaming, defences.
Fact and interest- personal stake?
to undermine alternatives
Constructing something as fact (to make more believable)- rather than as a matter of perspective
Descriptions convince and persuade to undermine alternatives
There is a dilemma of stake and interest- does the speaker have something to gain? Personal stake (biased)
Accountability
Position certain people or things as responsible for outcomes and action.
e.g. denying responsibility… “everyone passed the exam last year”
DP approach to identity
e.g. managing a heterosexual identity- defensive response, answer carefully due to potential implications about sexual identity- offers a justification for being able to comment on another mans attractiveness
When and how identifies are invoked and constructed in conversation
Focuses on the moment to moment construction of identity
Conversational identifies are NOT FIXED but vary according to context, identity is constructed in interaction.
Self presentation- how and when we present ourselves in the best possible light.
We construct particular versions of ourselves in the best possible light- the way we present ourselves impacts upon how others respond to us.
DP is not interested in the true self behind the mask, but rather HOW and WHEN we involve particular selves.
Interested in statements about the self for the social interactions they perform.
Edwards (2006)
Words are selected from a range of options, there is no point selecting a quote out of context to present what somebody thinks. They are constructed through social interaction, what are they doing with their language and how are they doing it!
