Constructing Identities The Social, the Nonhuman and Change [Paperback]

This volume provides a distinctive overview and analysis of the place of social constructionism in social psychology. The author's arguments revolve around two key questions: How can social constructionism account for changes in human identities? In what ways might social constructionism accommodate a role for nonhumans - whether technological or `natural' - in the constitution of identity?

Michael locates these questions between recent innovations in social psychology and the highly influential contributions of actor-network theory, which has come to dominate the sociology of scientific knowledge.This volume provides a distinctive overview and analysis of the place of social constructionism in social psychology. The author's arguments revolve around two key questions: How can social constructionism account for changes in human identities? In what ways might social constructionism accommodate a role for nonhumans - whether technological or `natural' - in the constitution of identity?

Michael locates these questions between recent innovations in social psychology and the highly influential contributions of actor-network theory, which has come to dominate the sociology of scientific knowledge.`A book which shows the exciting potential of actor-network theory for everyone with an interest in social constructionism. It bubbles with exciting ideas' - Jonathan Potter, Loughborough UniversityIntroduction
Constructing Socially Constructed Identity
Constructing a Critique of Social Constructionism
Constructing Actor-Network Theory
Actor-Network Theory and Identity
Science, Knowledge and the Public
Actors, Identities and `Natural' Nonhumans
Conclusion