The Sociocultural Turn in Psychology : The Contextual Emergence of Mind and Self

"Although this volume is thus not intended to be a comprehensive collection of all contemporary psychological theorists and approaches that might be called “sociocultural,” even according to our definition of the term, it does provide an introduction to many of the most prominent and influential contemporary sociocultural perspectives. In the chapters that follow, each theorist discusses in depth his or her vision of how the mind or self emerges out of social life, and the type of research that is made possible by such an approach." The sociocultural turn in psychology treats psychological subjects, such as the mind and the self, as processes that are constituted, or "made up," within specific social and cultural practices. In other words, though one's distinct psychology is anchored by an embodied, biological existence, sociocultural interactions are integral to the evolution of the person. Only in the past two decades has the sociocultural turn truly established itself within disciplinary and professional psychology. Providing advanced students and practitioners with a definitive understanding of these theories, Suzanne R. Kirschner and Jack Martin, former presidents of the American Psychological Association's Division of the Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, assemble a collection of essays that describes the discursive, hermeneutic, dialogical, and activity approaches of sociocultural psychology. Each contribution recognizes psychology as a human science and supports the individual's potential for agency and freedom. At the same time, they differ in their understanding of a person's psychological functioning and the best way to study it. Ultimately the sociocultural turn offers an alternative to overly biological or interiorized theories of the self, emphasizing instead the formation and transformation of our minds in relation to others and the world. The Sociocultural Turn In Psychology : An Introduction And Invitation / Suzanne R. Kirschner And Jack Martin -- Public Sources Of The Personal Mind : Social Constructionism In Context / Rom Harré -- Inside Our Lives Together : A Neo-wittgensteinian Constructionism / John Shotter -- Beyond The Enlightenment : Relational Being / Kenneth J. Gergen -- Sociocultural Means To Feminist Ends : Discursive And Constructionist Psychologies Of Gender / Eva Magnusson And Jeanne Marecek -- Hermeneutics And Sociocultural Perspectives In Psychology / Frank C. Richardson And Blaine J. Fowers -- The Space Of Selfhood : Culture, Narrative, Identity / Mark Freeman -- Agentive Hermeneutics / Jeff Sugarman And Jack Martin -- The Dialogical Self As A Minisociety / Hubert J.m. Hermans And João Salgado -- Theorizing Cultural Psychology In Transnational Contexts / Sunil Bhatia -- Cultural-historical Activity Theory : Foundational Worldview, Major Principles, And The Relevance Of Sociocultural Context / Anna Stetsenko And Igor M. Arievitch -- Vygotsky And Context : Toward A Resolution Of Theoretical Disputes / Michael Cole And Natalia Gajdamaschko. Edited By Suzanne R. Kirschner And Jack Martin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.