L12 - Discursive Psychology p3

Question 1

The social cognition approach to categorisation sees social categorisation as a cognitive tendency to…

Answer 1

simplify an overly complex world

Question 2

Social representations and social identity theory view social categorisations as a cognitive tendency in order to…

Answer 2

render the world more intelligible

Question 3

Explain social categories according to discursive psychology

Answer 3

People constitute categories discursively in order to ‘do’ certain things.

Question 4

Are categories cognitive phenomena according to discursive psychology?

Answer 4

No

challenges the view that social categories are rigid a priori cognitive elements

Question 5

What did Edwards mean when he said ‘categories are for talking’?

Answer 5

Categorization is something we do, in talk, in order to accomplish social actions.

(e.g. persuasions, blaming, denial)

Question 6

Which one of these does Edwards believe

1) People come to regard category constructions as versions of reality
2) People come to see category constructions as representations of reality itself

Answer 6

2

“some constructions are so familiar, pervasive, even banal, that they ‘give an effect of realism’ or ‘fact’

Question 7

DP expects that social categories used in talk are 1)____, 2)____ and 3)____ depending on their varied functional and contextual uses

Answer 7

1. variable
2. flexible
3. shifting

Question 8

What are ‘identity management strategies’ according to DP?

Answer 8

Discursive strategies that people use to position themselves and their identity.

Question 9

What is DP interested in with regards to categories?

Answer 9

How they become constructed in different social contexts and how the method of construction creates subjectivity for oneself and for those defined as other.

Question 10

What are social identity categories?

Answer 10

Groups like gender, race, age etc.

Question 11

What are the three identity management strategies?

Answer 11

1. Stake and interest (presenting themselves as not biased)
2. Positioning - (footing, neutrality and alignment // i.e. the relationship of the writer’s identity and the account they are making)
3. Category entitlement (using an expert in a field)

Question 12

What are the 4 core principles of DP?

Answer 12

1. Discourse is constitutive
2. Discourse is functional
3. Discourse is put together with discursive resources and practices
4. Discourse constructs identities for speakers

Question 13

According to DP (principle 4), people have multiple and shifting identities that are brought into being through discourse.

Why do people change their identities?

Answer 13

To accomplish specific social goals.

Question 14

In what age did the ‘norm against prejudice’ come to be?

Answer 14

The enlightenment

Question 15

What does it mean to be prejudiced?

Answer 15

To ‘pre-judge’

Make an assessment without considering all the facts

Question 16

When asked ‘what did she say’ and the response comes as ‘shes just a bigoted woman’.

What sort of factitious technique is the responder using according to DP?

Answer 16

Systematic vagueness

(no details in the answer)

Question 17

Being bigoted is deemed as socially unacceptable and holds moral weight.

What happens to someone once you categorise them as a bigot?

Answer 17

It depicts them negatively, and also holds her accountable for such views.

Question 18

Phrases like ‘most people would ask’ are seen as what in DP?

Answer 18

‘consensus warrant’

Question 19

How did people recast the category of Goodes vs. the 13-year-old who called him an ape from ‘aboriginal vs racist’ to…

2) How did this recategorization change how the event could be interpreted?

Answer 19

powerful sportsman vs. 13-year-old girl

Meant it wasn’t necessarily seen as a racist issue but instead a powerful adult abusing a young child.

Question 20

Look at lecture 12 recap for seeing possible revision questions.

Answer 20

Good luck!