WOSOCU M1 L3 Social Construction of Reality

Peter Berger & Thomas Luckmann

• Peter Berger: contributions in sociological theory, sociology of religion, and third world development

• Thomas Luckmann: contributions in phenomenological sociology, sociology of religion in modern society, and sociology of knowledge

• Both wrote “social construction of reality”

social construction of reality

• what we believe is real is shaped by our social interactions / life experiences with other people

• assumes that understanding, significance, and meaning are created in coordination with people

• things are real but they are constructions

how is reality constructed?

• habitualization: when people repeat an action it becomes a habit

• institutionalization: these habits become widely accepted by society. thus, turns into customs and rules

society as an objective reality

• people view society as something that exists independently

• customs / social institutions are passed on to a new generation creating an “objective reality”

• we do not only construct our own society— we accept it as it is as it has been created before us

example of objective reality

• legal system: govern behavior, impose consequences, and set boundaries in society. Thus, established for what is legally right and wrong

• gender roles: people assign based on biological sex of a person = expected activities / roles are established.

society as a subjective reality

• created, maintained, and experienced through individual and collective human consciousness

• exists set of meanings, beliefs, and understandings that people interpret and internalize

socialization

• how individuals learn and internalize the values, norms, behaviors, and skills necessary to function in society

• 2 kinds of socialization: primary & secondary

primary socialization

• occurs in childhood when first encountered / internalized with the world

• language acquisition: learn native language through family members

• social norms: taught about social norms in home like manners and respect

secondary socialization

• happens later in life in institutions like school, work, peer groups

• allows individual to adapt to ever changing world

• at school: they learn to interact with peers and teachers where they acquire behavior such as raising hand