W10 - Social Constructionism

Question 1

What is social constructionism, according to Gergen (1985)?

Answer 1

A framework examining how people describe, explain, and account for the world through historical and cultural contexts.

Question 2

How does Gergen (2009) use metaphors to explain social constructionism?

Answer 2

As lenses or frames shaping our perceptions of reality.

Question 3

What is the central focus of epistemological arguments in social constructionism?

Answer 3

The nature and production of knowledge, questioning how we know what we know.

Question 4

Who are the foundational thinkers of social constructionism, and what did they propose?

Answer 4

Berger and Luckmann, proposing that reality is socially constructed through shared understandings.

Question 5

What historical movement influenced the emergence of modernism?

Answer 5

The Enlightenment, which emphasized scientific truth and objectivity.

Question 6

How does postmodernism critique modernism, according to Gergen (2009)?

Answer 6

By challenging objectivity and highlighting the communal construction of scientific knowledge.

Question 7

What does Braun & Clarke (2013) argue about the construction of knowledge?

Answer 7

It is influenced by power dynamics and sustained through societal structures.

Question 8

What is the ontological perspective in social constructionism?

Answer 8

It examines the nature of reality without assuming it is fixed or singular.

Question 9

What is the critique of universal truths in social constructionism?

Answer 9

It rejects the idea of singular, absolute knowledge, emphasizing context and variability.

Question 10

According to Burr (2003), what is the tenet of skepticism in social constructionism?

Answer 10

Questioning taken-for-granted knowledge and assumptions about reality.

Question 11

What does Martin (2003) mean by knowledge being historically and culturally situated?

Answer 11

Knowledge varies across time and societies, shaped by cultural and historical norms.

Question 12

How is language central to social constructionism, as per Gergen (2003)?

Answer 12

Language constructs and negotiates shared meanings in social interactions.

Question 13

What is the role of knowledge in social contexts, according to Gergen (2009)?

Answer 13

Knowledge is active and shapes decisions, norms, and actions.

Question 14

How does Joshua Bell’s case study illustrate social constructionism?

Answer 14

It shows how context shapes the perception of talent and value.

Question 15

What is ‘professional socialization,’ as defined by Ajjawi & Higgs (2008)?

Answer 15

The internalization of practices, values, and norms within a profession.

Question 16

How does social constructionism analyze workplace dynamics like maternity leave?

Answer 16

By examining how language and norms affect perceptions of competence (Buzzanell et al., 2017).

Question 17

What critiques are made against social constructionism’s moral relativism?

Answer 17

Critics argue it avoids asserting moral absolutes, leading to perceived meaninglessness (Gergen, 2009).

Question 18

How does the ‘death of the subject’ critique challenge social constructionism?

Answer 18

It questions whether individual psychology is relevant if behavior is socially constructed (Willig, 2001).

Question 19

What does ‘active knowledge’ mean in the workplace context?

Answer 19

Knowledge shapes workplace norms, decisions, and power dynamics dynamically.

Question 20

What role do accents play in workplace identity, as per Thompson (1991)?

Answer 20

Accents act as markers of professional identity and influence perceptions of authority.

Question 21

How does Rehel (2014) describe the impact of paternity leave on social norms?

Answer 21

It fosters equitable parenting and shifts perceptions of fatherhood roles.

Question 22

What is ‘debunking’ in social constructionist thought, according to Lamont (2010)?

Answer 22

A strategy used in psychology to validate rational skepticism over paranormal beliefs.

Question 23

How does Bourdieu (1991) link workplace accents to power dynamics?

Answer 23

Accents align with professional expectations, impacting authority and recognition.

Question 24

What does Coles (1992) state about institutional practices?

Answer 24

They shape daily life and reinforce social norms through routine structures.

Question 25

What is the critique in ‘Of Death and Furniture’ against social constructionism?

Answer 25

It challenges SC’s dismissal of material realities like death and physical objects (Edwards et al., 1995).

Question 26

How does Braun & Clarke (2013) describe science as a social construct?

Answer 26

As a dominant framework dictating knowledge validity and parameters.

Question 27

How is moral absolutism linked to death in ‘Of Death and Furniture’?

Answer 27

Death frames moral values and absolutes beyond cultural relativism.

Question 28

How does Humberd, Ladge, & Harrington (2015) discuss evolving fatherhood narratives?

Answer 28

Workplace contexts shape and redefine traditional and modern roles of fathers.

Question 29

What is the social constructionist perspective on inequality and activism?

Answer 29

It critiques tacit knowledge to challenge structures of inequality but avoids asserting universal truths.

Question 30

How does Gergen (2009) address the self-defeating critique of social constructionism?

Answer 30

By framing SC as a metaphor and toolset, not an absolute truth.