Social Representations for the Anthropocene: Latin American Perspectives (The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science)

The Anthropocene has become a field of studies in which the influence of human activity on the Earth System and nature is both the main threat and the potential solution. Social Representations Theory has been evolving since the 1960s.It links knowledge and practice in everyday life and is an effective way to deal with systemic crises based on common sense. This book assembles key contributions by Latin American scholars working with social representations in the social sciences that are of conceptual relevance to the study of the Anthropocene and that investigate the societal consequences of complex interrelations between common sense and topics of global relevance, such asthe contradictions of sustainable development, the construction of risks beyond risk-perception, health, negotiation and governance in the field of education, gender equality, the usefulness of longitudinal and systemic ethnography and case studies, and agency and the link between inequality, crises and risk society in the context of COVID-19, presenting theoretical and methodological innovations fromSpanish, Portuguese and Frenchresearchthat have rarely been available in English. • This is the first book to address the relevance of Social Representations Theory for the Anthropocene as a societal era• It presents the multidisciplinary scope of Social Representations• This book covers emerging research contributions in Social Representations Theory from Latin America• This book presents innovative research and commentaries by established researchers in the field• This multidisciplinary book should be in the libraries of many disciplines in the social sciences and humanities Preface Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations Chapter 1 Building a Sand String: Social Representations for the Anthropocene Abstract 1.1 The Objective of This Book 1.2 On the Anthropocene as a Societal Era and Its Common Sense Relation to Social Representations Theory 1.2.1 The Anthropocene and the Earth System: A Conceptual Unfolding 1.2.2 Establishing the Common Sense Relation Between the Anthropocene and Social Representations Theory 1.3 A Brief Regional Outline of the Social Representations Research Groups Presented in This Book 1.4 About the Chapters in the Book References Chapter 2 Social Representations and History: Theoretical Problems Abstract Introductory Comment References 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Representation: At the Crossroads of Two Historiographic Paths 2.3 Memory and History 2.4 Final Considerations References Chapter 3 Social Representations in the Study of Disaster Risk in the Municipality of Piedecuesta, Santander (Colombia): The Social Cognitive Dimension Abstract Introductory Comment Theoretical-conceptual overview Methodology Results Conclusions 3.1 On the Analysis Offered in this Chapter 3.2 Theoretical-Conceptual Review: Risk and Social Representations 3.2.1 Social Representations Theory and the Processual Approach 3.3 Methodology and Area of Study 3.4 Results 3.4.1 Theoretical-conceptual Interaction of the Social Approach and the Moscovician Perspective 3.4.2 Categories, Integrative Elements and Basic Content 3.5 Analytical Categories 3.5.1 Socio-Cognitive Dimension 3.5.1.1 Piedecuestanos Residents and their Know-How Common to Disaster Risk 3.6 The Peri-Urban Population’s Representations of Risk: What Do They Know? How do They Know It? And From Where Do They Know? 3.6.1 Anchorage Lines and Objectification: Temporality and Causality of Disaster Risk 3.7 Socio-Structural Dimension 3.7.1 The Natural Element: Threat or Resource? 3.7.1.1 Vulnerability Represented 3.8 Conclusions References Chapter 4 Confluences between Social Representations Theory and the Psychology of Active Minorities Abstract Introductory Comment 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Scenarios of Studies and Research in Social Represen-tations in Brazil 4.3 Confluences between Social Representations Theory and the Psychology of Active Minorities 4.3.1 The Process of Representing: The Polyphasia of Social Knowledge 4.3.2 The Process of Representing Oneself: Active Minorities, Influence and Sociopolitical Change 4.4 Possible Horizons in an Arena of Challenges References Chapter 5 Relationships between Beliefs and Social Representations: A Brief Theoretical Reflection Abstract Introductory Comment 5.1 Introductory Elements for Reflection 5.2 Belief-based Representations, or rather Knowledge-based Representations? 5.3 Beliefs are a Form of Knowledge 5.4 Final Considerations References Chapter 6 Social Representations of Justice as Developing Structures: Sociogenesis and Ontogenesis Abstract Introductory Comment 6.1 A Developmental Approach to Justice as Social Representation 6.2 Social Representation of Justice Ontogenesis: Diffusion and Ideological Positionings 6.3 The Ontogenesis of the Social Representation of Justice 6.4 The Need for an Interdisciplinary Approach to SR: Social and Developmental Psychology Complementarity References Chapter 7 Common Sense in Gramsci’s and Moscovici’s Writings: Inspiration, Subversion and Revolution in Sociopolitical and Scientific Fields Abstract Introductory Comment 7.1 First Writings 7.2 Theoretical Approximations between Gramsci and Moscovici Through Common Sense 7.2.1 Gramsci and Knowledge: Epistemological Principles and the Place of Common Sense 7.3 Theoretical Dialogues between Gramsci and Moscovici: Common Sense and Epistemology 7.3.1 Historical Processuality: The Movement of Common Sense 7.3.2 Communication and its Relation with the Propagation of Common Sense 7.3.3 About Method or Methods: Critique of Modern Science and the Discredit of Common Sense 7.4 Theoretical Dialogues Between Gramsci and Moscovici: Common Sense, Social Representations and Ideology 7.5 Theoretical Dialogue Between Gramsci and Moscovici: Common Sense and Popular Knowledge 7.5.1 Language and Popular Knowledge: Persuasion and Influence in the Production of Common Sense 7.6 (In)conclusive Considerations References Chapter 8 Diffusion, Propaganda and Propagation: The Actuality of the Construct Abstract Introductory Comment 8.1 The Genesis of Research in Social Representations and Communication 8.2 Communication Systems and Social Representations: The Moscovian Legacy 8.3 Communication Systems and Social Representations: An Attempt to Update the Construct 8.4 Final Considerations References Chapter 9 The Figurative Core of Social Representations and Figures of Thought Abstract Introductory Comment 9.1 Introduction 9.2 The Figurative Core in Social Representations Theory 9.3 The Figurative Core and Figures of Thought: Tarzo Mazzotti’s Contributions 9.4 The Figurative Core Based on Rhetorical Devices: A Research Example 9.5 Final Remarks References Chapter 10 “The Tradition Must Carry On”: Representations and Social Practices of Gender and Ethnicity among Members of a Gypsy Group in a Brazilian Region Abstract Introductory Comment 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Gender and Ethnicity in the Gypsy Socio-cultural Context 10.3 Social Representations and Identity Processes 10.4 Methodological Strategies 10.4.1 Participants and Investigation Context 10.4.2 Data Collection Procedure 10.4.3 Procedure of Data Organization 10.5 Results 10.5.1 Thematic Axis 1: Gypsy Law: “The Main Thing is that the Gypsy Man has Freedom and the Gypsy Woman does not” 10.5.2 Thematic Axis 2: Gender and Ethnical Social Representations: Being a Gypsy Woman and Being a Gypsy Man 10.5.3 Thematic Axis 3: Tensions Between the Gypsy Law and Real Life 10.6 Social Representations and Identity Propositions: A Procedural Analysis 10.7 Final Considerations References Chapter 11 The Gendered Medicalized Body, Social Representations, and Symbolic Violence: Experiences of Brazilian Women with Artificial Contraceptive Methods Abstract Introductory Comment 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Methodological Notes – The Collective Notebook of Women’s Memories 11.3 From Hegemonic to Alternative Social Representations: Thinking of Contraceptive Methods 11.4 Symbolic Violence and Social Dominance 11.4.1 Beauty as a Legitimizing Myth: Medical Power and “A Beleza da Mulher Brasileira” 11.5 Conclusions References Chapter 12 Social Representations Theory in the Field of Nursing: Professional Autonomy, Vulnerability and Spirituality/Religiosity as Representational Objects Abstract Introductory Comment 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Social Representations Theory and Its Use in the Comprehension of Different Objects in the Fields of Health and Nursing 12.2.1 The Nursing Professional’s Autonomy as a Representation Construction 12.2.2 The Concept of Vulnerability for Professionals and Users of the Health System from Social Representations Theory 12.2.3 Social Representations Theory as a Grid for Reading the Spirituality and Religiousity Phenomenon in the Health Arena 12.3 In Conclusion References Chapter 13 Children, Multiple Ordinations of Reality and Social Representations: Dialogues from Lévy-Bruhl Abstract Introductory Comment 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Causality and Participation: About the Multiple Arrangements of Reality 13.3 Lévy-Bruhl’s Ideas and Some Inspirations from Moscovici 13.4 The Child as the Subject of Social Representations and New Realities of Reality 13.5 Final Considerations References Chapter 14 The Contribution of Social Representations Theory to Science Education Abstract Introductory Comment 14.1 Scenario: Science Education in Brazil 14.1.1 Assessment Systems: The Results of PISA 14.1.2 Reflecting on Science Education 14.2 Contribution of Social Representations Theory 14.3 EDUCIRS Group: Research Results 14.3.1 Scientific Culture at School: The Interface Between Teacher Training and Professional Practice 14.3.2 Quality of Science Education from the Teachers’ Perspective 14.4 Conclusions References Chapter 15 Possible Dialogues Between Social Representations and Educational Policies: The Dilemma of Data Analysis Abstract Introductory Comment 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Policy 15.3 Teaching Policies and Social Representations References Chapter 16 Social Representations of Violence among Public School Students Abstract Introductory Comment 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Method, Participants, Instruments and Data Analysis 16.3 Results 16.4 Discussion 16.5 Conclusion References Chapter 17 Quality School Education from the Perspective of Young Students: What Is the Future? Abstract Introductory Comment 17.1 Introduction 17.2 The Purpose of This Research 17.3 Psychosocial Approach: A Choice 17.4 The Route Taken: Empirical Research 17.4.1 Instruments 17.4.2 Procedures 17.4.3 Who Are the Young People Who Participated in the Research? 17.5 Analyses: What Do Pre-adolescents Think About Good Quality and Future School Education? 17.5.1 What the Pre-adolescents Said in the Questionnaire 17.5.2 What the Pre-adolescents Said in the Focus Group 17.6 Looking Ahead: What Is the Future? References Chapter 18 Social Representations in Motion: Concept Construction on Changing Subjects and Contexts Abstract Introductory Comment References 18.1 Introduction 18.2 The Motion of Social Representations of Rural Violence 18.3 The Motion of Social Representations in the Artistic Practices of Rural Teachers 18.4 Final Considerations References Chapter 19 Social Representations: A Bet on Social Change Abstract 19.1 Introduction 19.2 Latin America: Between Uncertainty and Hope 19.3 A Look at Our Work References About the Editors About the Contributors Index