DD307 Open University
Social Psychology -
Discursive Psychology
notes
Assumptions & definitions
Discourse - the way
particular meanings are
constructed w/in language
Not psychology of language -
but how people use language
in everyday lives
Language not neutral -
vehicle to present
different versions of
objects which will be
context dependent
DP offers analysis of what language
does & how people use it to present
& legitimise a certain stance on
given topic
Discourse Analysis - how
people use language to
present version of event -
will often
maintain/construct
particular position
Linguistic devices
P&W - used by m/c New
Zealanders to position
themselves as non-prejudice
re Polynesian immigrants
P&W - show how prejudice can
become justified via language
used
& continue in our
social interactions
Rhetorical devices
Strategies used to
persuade others of a
specific viewpoint
Foucault
Constructing regulative norms
Discursively constitute
some things as acceptable,
others deviant
& construct w/in that linguistic
distinction the incitement to
self-regulate, fit-in, be normal
Power
Not in hands of
powerful & oppress
the masses
But - multiplicity of discursive
practices that fabricates &
positions subjects
Power & ideology no longer separated
from & operating on individuals but
interwoven into subject positions a
person takes up & are mediated by
language
Tuffin -
Understanding
Critical Psychology
Thru language we offer:
Justifications & explanations
That take into a/c
how others may judge
our actions, motives &
intentions
We provide a/c's & descriptions
That inevitably attend
to questions of
responsibility, blame &
accountability
We criticise, cajole & counsel
Rarely from perspective of
neutrality or disinterest
We're psychologically invested in
the matters we comment on
Action orientation of
language use
We achieve much thru the
complex ways we're able to
structure & manage
talk/text
Much important
social business
transacted in & thru
language
Discursive analysis
1) Construction
How a/c is put together; what
linguistic resources -
interpretive repertoires?
Packages of ideas useful
for making sense of &
evaluating the world
2) Function
Active/'doing' element
Things achieved by particular
characterisations, evaluation,
descrption
Version of events examined for
interpersonal & psychological
achievements
e.g. accountability,
blame, causality
Important re attributions &
assignment of responsibility for
events w/in particular way a/c
constructed
3) Variability
Natural feature of language use
Unique r'ship w/ function
Alternative a/c's see to
do different business
Important as highlights context
Epistemological difference (from cog. soc.)
Suggests emotion,
attributes, memories etc
should be regarded as
being
constituted in & thru the
ways in which they're
talked/written about
DP examines ways in which
language contributes to shared
understandings of how categories
formulated in particular ways
Recognising talking about
emotion in 1 way will have
particular effects, while
talking about it in another
way has another effect