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THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE SOCIAL REPRESENTATION OF CULTURE: AN EMPIRICAL CONTRIBUTION

Year 2015, , 174 - 179, 31.08.2015
https://doi.org/10.18769/ijasos.21143

Abstract

According to Abric’s (1983) structural approach, social representations (Moscovici, 1961) are made of a central nucleus surrounded by peripheral elements. This theoretical approach, based on a hierarchical structure, deals with the idea of a specific internal configuration of every representation. Abric (1994) and Flament (1994), moreover argued that social practices, related to specific social context, were a major factor in the co-construction of a representation. Starting from this theoretical framework, the purpose of this study is to identify the social representations of culture, circulating among young Neapolitan students. The aim is also to verify if these representations are different from each other, starting from the different social environments of production. Two groups of pupils (161 participants, in the age between 8 and 10 years old), belonging to opposite local contexts, both from structural and socio-economical point of view, took part in the study. We choose a quali-quantitative approach using a free associations questionnaire. In particular, we asked the children to freely indicate five words when they think about culture; then we asked them to motivate the words they choose and in the end to organize those words in order of importance. Collected data were analysed by the Hierarchical Evocations Technique (Vergès, 1992). The results, discussed from their theoretical, methodological and applicative implications, confirm the presence of stimulating differences between the two SRs.

Keywords: Culture, Social Psychology, Social Representations, Development Age, Qualitative-quantitative research, Hierarchical Evocations Technique

References

  • Abric, J.C. (1983). “Approche Théorique Et Expérimentale Des Représentations Sociales En Situation D’interaction ». In R. Farr, S. Moscovici (Eds), Social Representations (pp. 201-216). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  • Abric, J.C. (1994). “Les Représentations Sociales: Aspects Théoriques ». In J.-C. Abric (Ed.), Pratiques Sociales Et Représentations (pp. 10–36). Paris: Presses Universitaires De France.
  • Abric, J.C. (2003). Le Recherché Du Noyau Central Et De La Zone Muette Des Représentations Sociales. In J.-C. Abric (Ed.) Méthodes D’étude Des Représentations Sociales (pp. 59-80). Ramonville Saint-Agne: Eres.
  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986). “Recent Advances”. In Research on the Ecology of Human Development. In R. K. Silbereisen, K. Eyferth, & G. Rudinger (Eds.), Development As Action In Context: Problem Behavior And Normal Youth Development (pp. 287-309). Heidelberg and New York: Springer-Verlag.
  • Bruner, J.S. (1990). Acts of Meaning. The Jerusalem-Harvard Lectures. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
  • Cole, M., (1996). Cultural Psychology: A Once and Future Discipline. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
  • Comune di Napoli (2012). Profilo Di Comunità Della Città Di Napoli 2010-2012. Napoli: Comune Di Napoli.
  • Duveen, G. (2000). “Introduction: The Power of Ideas”. In S. Moscovici (Ed.), Explorations in Social Psychology (pp. 1-17). Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Flament, C. (1994). « Structure Et Dynamique Des Représentations Sociales ». In D. Jodelet (Ed.), Les Représentations Sociales (pp. 204-219). Paris: PUF (1re Ed. 1989).
  • Galli, I. (2006). La Teoria Delle Rappresentazioni Sociali. Bologna: Il Mulino.
  • Galli, I. & Fasanelli, R. (1995). “Health and Illness: A Contribution to the Research in The Field Of Social Representations”, Papers On Social Representations, 4(1).
  • Galli, I., Nigro, G., & Poderico, C., (1989). I Bambini E Il Nucleare. Genesi Ed Evoluzione Di Una Rappresentazione Sociale. Milano: Giuffrè.
  • Holland, D.H. (2010). “Symbolic Worlds in Time/Spaces Of Practice: Identities And Transformation”. In B. Wagoner (Ed.), Symbolic Transformation (pp. 269-283). London: Routledge.
  • Kharlamov, N. (2012). “The City as a Sign: A Developmental-Experimental Approach To The Spatial Life”. In J. Valsiner (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook Of Culture And Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Jovchelovitch, S. (2007). Knowledge in Context: Representations, Community and Culture. London: Routledge.
  • Jovchelovitch, S., Priego-Hernandez, J., & Glaveanu., V.-P. (2013). “Constructing Public Worlds: Culture And Socio-Economic Context In The Development Of Children's Representations Of The Public Sphere”. Culture & Psychology, 19(3).
  • Leone, G., Mazzara, B.M., & Sarrica, M. (2013). La Psicologia Sociale. Processi Mentali, Comunicazione E Cultura. Roma-Bari: Laterza,.
  • Moscovici, S., (1961). La Psychanalyse, Son Image Et Son Public. Paris: PUF.
  • Obeyesekere, G. (2005). Cannibal Talk. Berkeley, Ca: University Of California Press.
  • Obeyesekere, G. (2010). “Deep Motivation and the Work of Culture in Christian Penitential Ecstasy”. In B. Wagoner (Ed.) Symbolic Transformation (pp. 120-141). London: Routledge.
  • Skinner, D., Patch, A., & Holland, D. (Eds.) (1998). Selves in Time and Place. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
  • Valsiner, J. (2012). “Encounter of Inquisitive Minds. In J. Valsiner” (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook Of Culture And Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Vergès, P. (1992). “L’évocation De L’argent. Une Méthode Pour La Définition Du Noyau Central D’une Représentation. Bullettin De Psychologie, 45(405).
  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1962). Thought and Language. Boston: MIT Press.
  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge, Ma: Harvard University Press.
  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1997). “The History of the Development of Higher Mental Functions”. In R. Rieber (Ed.) The Collected Works Of L.S. Vygotsky, Vol. 4. New York: Plenum Press.
  • Wagner, W., & Hayes, N. (2005). Everyday Discourse and Common Sense: The Theory of Social Representations. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Year 2015, , 174 - 179, 31.08.2015
https://doi.org/10.18769/ijasos.21143

Abstract

References

  • Abric, J.C. (1983). “Approche Théorique Et Expérimentale Des Représentations Sociales En Situation D’interaction ». In R. Farr, S. Moscovici (Eds), Social Representations (pp. 201-216). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  • Abric, J.C. (1994). “Les Représentations Sociales: Aspects Théoriques ». In J.-C. Abric (Ed.), Pratiques Sociales Et Représentations (pp. 10–36). Paris: Presses Universitaires De France.
  • Abric, J.C. (2003). Le Recherché Du Noyau Central Et De La Zone Muette Des Représentations Sociales. In J.-C. Abric (Ed.) Méthodes D’étude Des Représentations Sociales (pp. 59-80). Ramonville Saint-Agne: Eres.
  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986). “Recent Advances”. In Research on the Ecology of Human Development. In R. K. Silbereisen, K. Eyferth, & G. Rudinger (Eds.), Development As Action In Context: Problem Behavior And Normal Youth Development (pp. 287-309). Heidelberg and New York: Springer-Verlag.
  • Bruner, J.S. (1990). Acts of Meaning. The Jerusalem-Harvard Lectures. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
  • Cole, M., (1996). Cultural Psychology: A Once and Future Discipline. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
  • Comune di Napoli (2012). Profilo Di Comunità Della Città Di Napoli 2010-2012. Napoli: Comune Di Napoli.
  • Duveen, G. (2000). “Introduction: The Power of Ideas”. In S. Moscovici (Ed.), Explorations in Social Psychology (pp. 1-17). Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Flament, C. (1994). « Structure Et Dynamique Des Représentations Sociales ». In D. Jodelet (Ed.), Les Représentations Sociales (pp. 204-219). Paris: PUF (1re Ed. 1989).
  • Galli, I. (2006). La Teoria Delle Rappresentazioni Sociali. Bologna: Il Mulino.
  • Galli, I. & Fasanelli, R. (1995). “Health and Illness: A Contribution to the Research in The Field Of Social Representations”, Papers On Social Representations, 4(1).
  • Galli, I., Nigro, G., & Poderico, C., (1989). I Bambini E Il Nucleare. Genesi Ed Evoluzione Di Una Rappresentazione Sociale. Milano: Giuffrè.
  • Holland, D.H. (2010). “Symbolic Worlds in Time/Spaces Of Practice: Identities And Transformation”. In B. Wagoner (Ed.), Symbolic Transformation (pp. 269-283). London: Routledge.
  • Kharlamov, N. (2012). “The City as a Sign: A Developmental-Experimental Approach To The Spatial Life”. In J. Valsiner (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook Of Culture And Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Jovchelovitch, S. (2007). Knowledge in Context: Representations, Community and Culture. London: Routledge.
  • Jovchelovitch, S., Priego-Hernandez, J., & Glaveanu., V.-P. (2013). “Constructing Public Worlds: Culture And Socio-Economic Context In The Development Of Children's Representations Of The Public Sphere”. Culture & Psychology, 19(3).
  • Leone, G., Mazzara, B.M., & Sarrica, M. (2013). La Psicologia Sociale. Processi Mentali, Comunicazione E Cultura. Roma-Bari: Laterza,.
  • Moscovici, S., (1961). La Psychanalyse, Son Image Et Son Public. Paris: PUF.
  • Obeyesekere, G. (2005). Cannibal Talk. Berkeley, Ca: University Of California Press.
  • Obeyesekere, G. (2010). “Deep Motivation and the Work of Culture in Christian Penitential Ecstasy”. In B. Wagoner (Ed.) Symbolic Transformation (pp. 120-141). London: Routledge.
  • Skinner, D., Patch, A., & Holland, D. (Eds.) (1998). Selves in Time and Place. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
  • Valsiner, J. (2012). “Encounter of Inquisitive Minds. In J. Valsiner” (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook Of Culture And Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Vergès, P. (1992). “L’évocation De L’argent. Une Méthode Pour La Définition Du Noyau Central D’une Représentation. Bullettin De Psychologie, 45(405).
  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1962). Thought and Language. Boston: MIT Press.
  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge, Ma: Harvard University Press.
  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1997). “The History of the Development of Higher Mental Functions”. In R. Rieber (Ed.) The Collected Works Of L.S. Vygotsky, Vol. 4. New York: Plenum Press.
  • Wagner, W., & Hayes, N. (2005). Everyday Discourse and Common Sense: The Theory of Social Representations. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
There are 27 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Emanuele Schember

Alessia Tuselli

Roberto Fasanelli

İda Galli

Publication Date August 31, 2015
Submission Date August 30, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2015

Cite

EndNote Schember E, Tuselli A, Fasanelli R, Galli İ (August 1, 2015) THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE SOCIAL REPRESENTATION OF CULTURE: AN EMPIRICAL CONTRIBUTION. IJASOS- International E-journal of Advances in Social Sciences 1 2 174–179.

Contact: ijasosjournal@hotmail.com

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