The psychological subject and Harre's social psychology: An analysis of a constructionist case

Author(s): Stam, H. J.

Journal/Book: J Theor Soc Behav. 1996; 26: 108 Cowley Rd, Oxford, Oxon, England OX4 1JF. Blackwell Publ Ltd. 327.

Abstract: Taking Rom Harre's social constructionism as a focus we point to and discuss the issue of the a priori psychological subject in social constructionist theory. While Harre indicates that interacting, intending beings are necessary for conversation to occur, he assumes that the primary human reality is conversation and that psychological life emerges from this social domain. Nevertheless, we argue that a fundamental and agentive psychological subject is implicit to his constructionist works. Our critical analyses focus upon Harre's understandings of persons, human development and human agency. Our intention is neither to suggest that this latent entity must be understood in a Cartesian sense nor is it to ask for an explicit accounting of an autonomous agent. Rather, our claim is simply that psychological subjectivity is reflexively entailed in Harre's human psychology. We suggest that this pertains more generally to social constructionist theory.

Note: Article Scott CL, Univ Calgary, Dept Psychol, 2500 Univ Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CANADA

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