Social Construction of Reality Peter Berger and Thomas

Social Construction of Reality • Peter Berger and Thomas Luckman • Theory that assumes that understanding, significance and meaning are created not within the individual, but in coordination with other human beings. – Human beings rationalize their experiences by creating a model of the social world and how it works. – Language is the essential system to help us establish that reality. • What we believe is real is shaped by our social interactions and our life experiences with other people.

Social Construction of Reality According to Berger and Luckman, society is constructed through three stages: • Externalization- we create cultural products (values, beliefs, material products) through social interaction. These products become external to those who have produced them. • Objectivation- is when products created in the first stage appear to take on a reality of their own, becoming independent of those who created them. • Internalization- we learn the supposedly "objective facts" about the cultural products that have been created. This occurs primarily through socialization, the process of social interaction in which one learns the ways of society.

Social Construction of Situations • Thomas Theorem ( W. I. Thomas) – “If a person perceives a situation as real, it is real in its consequences” – Our behavior depends on our subjective interpretation of reality. • Definition of a Situation – The idea that people create of what is expected of them and others in a given situation.

Social Construction of Reality • Definition of a Situation (3 parts to it) – Framing: understanding the context of the situation. – Roles: understanding the appropriate identities for the situation – Leeway: understanding how much leeway there is to enact each role. There are limits to the identity a person can claim • If parties disagree about the definition of the situation, conflict arises.

Social Construction of Heroes • Hero – someone admired by his/her achievement, courage, skill, dedication or integrity. • Ancient Greeks definition of hero – “person descended from goals on one side of the family, and from a mortal on the other side”

Hero’s Journey (a. k. a. Monomyth) • A Hero's Journey • Joseph Campbell’s theory that many narratives from around the world share a similar pattern revolving around the life of a hero. • His book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” was published in 1949

Functions of Heroes • Reflect cultural ideals and values. • Become representatives or symbols of a culture • Maintain a society’s cultural beliefs, such as hard work or achievement • Serve as agents of social control and influence people

Functions of Heroes • Help provide social integration by bringing disparate groups of society together • Serve as source of identity and role models for youth • Heroes of community association are heroes at a regional level with following in their community

Categories of Heroes • The Winner – Emphasis on outcome and not on the process or necessarily how skillful they are. (Ex. Eli Manning, Robert Horry) • Skilled Performers – Give off an aura of invincibility and their pressence scares opponents.

Categories of Heroes • Hero of Social Acceptability – Upholds values of society; transcends the sport; become role models. • Group Servant – Does what’s best for the team; sacrifices individual wants or stats. • Risk Taker – Inclined to place themselves in danger. (Ex. Wide receiver who crosses through the middle of the field)

Categories of Heroes • Reluctant Hero – Leads by example or other indirect methods of leadership. • Charismatic Hero – Possesses unique personality qualities. Might not be the most talented but leads team. • Anti-Hero – Doesn’t demonstrate desired values yet still has a following.