The Psychology Book

238

THE GOAL IS

NOT TO ADVANCE

KNOWLEDGE, BUT

TO BE IN THE KNOW

SERGE MOSCOVICI (1925– )

IN CONTEXT

APPROACH

Social constructivism

BEFORE

1807 German philosopher

Georg Hegel says that our

ideas and values are fashioned

by the zeitgeist, or spirit of the

age, which constantly changes

through the reconciliation of

opposing views.

1927 German physicist Werner

Heisenberg’s “Uncertainty

Principle” reveals that the

observer affects the observed.

1973 American psychologist

Kenneth Gergen writes Social

Psychology as History, which

marks the emergence of

social constructivism.

AFTER

1978 In his zone of proximal

development theory, Lev

Vygotsky puts forward the idea

that learning is fundamentally

a socially mediated activity.

This merges with other

things we know or

have experienced.

We chatter about this

with other people and

share our thoughts.

Attitudes become

organized and values

become established.

The goal is not

to advance

knowledge, but

to be “in the know.”

We overhear something

that arouses our

curiosity.

Everyone is eager to

transmit knowledge and

keep a place in the circle

of conversation.

The collective

conversations continue,

allowing everyone

to know more.

Society begins to

use new phrases and

visions to describe a

collective common sense.