Social Constructionism

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton and Kim Jackson  

Introduction

Social constructionism is the theory that people develop knowledge of the world in a social context, and much of what we perceive as reality depends on shared assumptions.

1. From a social constructionist perspective, many things we take for granted and believe are in reality are socially constructed, and are able to change as society changes.
2. Social constructionists believe that things that are generally viewed as natural or normal in society (eg understandings of gender, race, class, and disability) are socially constructed, and accordingly are not an accurate reflection of reality.
3. Social constructs are often created within specific institutions and cultures and come to prominence in certain historical periods. Social constructs’ dependence of historical, political, and economic conditions can lead them to evolve and change.

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This 3 minute video summarises the theory well.

Theoretical Beginnings

Social constructivism (a social learning theory developed by Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky) states that individuals are active participants in the creation of their own knowledge. He believed that learning takes place primarily in social and cultural settings, rather than solely within the individual. eg students learn primarily through interactions with their peers, teachers, and parents.

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