An Invitation to Social Construction

by Kenneth J. Gergen

Book Overview

An Invitation to Social Construction is an elegant overview of social constructionism from a major figure in the movement, that is at once panoptic and accessible as an introductory text. In this landmark work, author Kenneth Gergen charts the background to the social constructionist movement and outlines the major debates, topics and issues in a way that is at once profound yet highly readable. It is an interdisciplinary tour de force that will influence...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803983778
• ISBN13: 9780803983779
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

What is Social Constructionism?

This is a great book for a number of reasons. Gergen is a great writer, historian, and activist. He takes and uses the greatest hits of postmodern thought to craft an argument for radical constructivism. Many may disagree with my comparison, because Gergen grounds his self-organization in social or interpersonal grounds, but I cannot yet see the division line. If you are interested in seeing how one bases a theory on critical theory read Gergen who gives it a go. Does he suceed? You be the judge.

WARNING: This book can change how you think and see.

I've spent the last 30 years practicing and teaching psychotherapy. In that time I've read everyone from Jay Haley and Steve de Shazer to Otto Kernberg and Heinz Kohut and lots of people in between in search of helpful ideas. I came across Kenneth Gergen's writings several years ago and now I can't stop reading the guy. This book is the best introduction to social constructionism and Gergen himself I have read to date. I only wish it had been his first so I could have had this clear, broad ranging work as a starting point for reading his earlier, somewhat more challenging writings. Careful though, one book and you can get addicted.

WARNING: This book can change how you think and see.

I've spent the last 30 years practicing and teaching psychotherapy. In that time I've read everyone from Jay Haley and Steve de Shazer to Otto Kernberg and Heinz Kohut and lots of people in between in search of helpful ideas. I came across Kenneth Gergen's writings several years ago and now I can't stop reading the guy. This book is the best introduction to social constructionism and Gergen himself I have read to date. I only wish it had been his first so I could have had this clear, broad ranging work as a starting point for reading his earlier, somewhat more challenging writings. Careful though, one book, and you might get addicted.Phillip Ziegler, co-author of Recreating Partnership: A Solution-Oriented, Collaborative Approach to Couples Therapy

An Inspiring Introduction to Social Constructionism

.Kenneth Gergen's new book, An Invitation to Social Construction (Sage 1999), may be the best introduction to the scholarship on social constructionism available today -- but, that's not all it is. It is also an inspiring and optimistic vision of what we can do to create better lives for ourselves. To present this vision, Gergen performs the service of a personable tourguide, cutting a path through the jungle of philosophy while making suggestions for action along the way. For example, instead of merely presenting George Lakoff's theory of everyday metaphor, he points to the way Lakoff has shown us that discussions are modeled on war (p.65). Why not, Gergen suggests, find "alternative metaphors"? Why conduct conversation as war? And Gergen does not just present Derrida's deconstructionism. Instead, he says, "Let us put this argument into action" (p.27). Deconstructionism, he explains shows that any direct statement of truth disguises a mountain of ambiguity and uncertainty. So, rather than fear that uncertainty, he tells us, why not embrace it as part of our lives? It need not cripple us, because, as Wittgenstein says, we do not need metaphysical clarity to go on together. Even with our uncertainty we can cut bold and exciting paths to better lives. It is just that our new paths need to be provisional. We will need to be ready to revise them in collaboration with others -- but that is the pleasure. I would summarize Gergen's general philosophy like this: Beware of authors who would sell you a model of any truth. Any model that presents itself as the simple truth will be deconstructed early tomorrow. However, don't let that discourage you from bold and audacious theorizing. It is the theorizing itself, the excitement, the adventure, the inspiration, the dialogue that will bond us together and create our good future, not the specific content of any particular theory. Then, in the spirit of his own suggestions, Gergen constructs just such an audacious theory, a theory full of specific yet provisional answers. First, he suggests, we need to quiet the battles in our personal warzones. To do that we must deconstruct our ideology of individualism. This classical American ideology has us thinking that each person is an island to herself deserving individual credit and individual blame. Individualism undercuts the impulse for dialogue. It shortcircuits the conversational melding and shifting of our individual minds. Individualism makes us forget, against all odds, that every human action is also re-action, and that every reaction is also action. Individualism confines us forever in the tragic culture of mutual blame. Let us replace it then, he advises, with a fresh vision of a collaborative world. Next, he suggests we stop staring out the back window of our culture with our eyes on the past. I am convinced by Gergen's argument that Foucault was such an author. He was trapped by his eternal resistance to past traditions (p.40), left without suffic

Excellent

Everytime I read another one of Ken Gergen's books, I'm more and more impressed. An Invitation to Social Construction is a wonderfully written following of the the development of the social constructionist movement. While the book is highly academic, Gergen synthesizes quotes, anecdotes and dialogues to keep the readers interest.