Peter Berger & Thomas Luckmann: Social Construction of Reality #Phenomenology #Berger and Luckmann

Summary

In this video, Emma from Such Logic Online explores Berger and Luckmann's theory of the social construction of reality. She discusses how individuals perceive society as orderly and objective, but in reality, social reality is a construct of human actions. Emma explains the process of how individual activities become habitual, patterned, and eventually institutionalized, leading to an objective reality that individuals internalize. She emphasizes that while society appears to be an external, objective entity, it is entirely a creation of social interactions, and the video concludes with a teaser for a continuation in the next episode.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses the theory of social construction of reality by Berger and Luckmann.
• 🎓 The theory is significant in sociology and phenomenology, influencing social values.
• 🌟 The theory suggests that individuals perceive social reality as objective and external to themselves.
• 🤔 Berger and Luckmann argue that this perception is a 'natural attitude' individuals have towards social reality.
• 🏗️ Social reality is actually a product of individual actions and activities that become habitual and institutionalized over time.
• 🔄 The process involves the creation of objective reality through individual actions that are habitualized, patterned, and institutionalized.
• 🧠 The socialization process is key in making individuals internalize the institutionalized reality, thus becoming social beings.
• 🔄 Objective reality is both produced by individuals and, in turn, shapes individuals' behavior and identity in society.
• 👥 The video emphasizes that society is not an objective entity but a socially constructed one, maintained through shared beliefs and practices.
• 🔄 The theory challenges the notion of society as a naturally ordered system, highlighting its constructed nature.

Q & A

Who are Berger and Luckmann, and what is their theory about?

Berger and Luckmann are prominent sociologists who contributed to the field with their theory of the social construction of reality. This theory posits that society's reality is not an objective entity but is constructed by human interactions and agreements.

What is the social construction of reality according to Berger and Luckmann?

The social construction of reality is a theory suggesting that what we perceive as reality is actually a product of our social interactions. It is not an objective truth but is created through the shared understandings and agreements within a society.

How do individuals understand social reality according to the script?

Individuals typically understand social reality as an objective and external phenomenon that exercises constraints over them. They perceive it as a natural, external, and objective reality that maintains social order.

What is the 'natural attitude' as described in the script?

The 'natural attitude' refers to the way individuals perceive and accept social reality as an objective and external phenomenon. It is the taken-for-granted assumption that the social world exists independently of individual perceptions.

How does Berger and Luckmann's theory challenge the 'natural attitude'?

Berger and Luckmann's theory challenges the 'natural attitude' by suggesting that social reality is not an objective given but is socially constructed. They argue that individuals should bracket this natural attitude to understand social reality sociologically.

What is the process through which objective reality is created according to the script?

The process of creating objective reality begins with individual activities that become habitual, then patterned, and eventually institutionalized across generations, leading to the acceptance of these practices as external and objective realities.

How does the socialization process relate to the construction of social reality?

The socialization process is integral to the construction of social reality as it involves the internalization of institutionalized practices and norms by individuals, thereby making them social beings who accept and perpetuate the social reality.

What role does the concept of 'institutionalized practice' play in the social construction of reality?

Institutionalized practice refers to activities that have become standardized and accepted over time within a society. It plays a crucial role in the social construction of reality as it forms the basis of objective reality that individuals perceive and follow.

How does the script explain the duality of reality being both objective and subjective?

The script explains that reality can be both objective and subjective through the lens of Berger and Luckmann's theory. Objective reality is produced by individuals and then internalized by them, making them social beings. This duality highlights the interplay between individual actions and societal structures.

What is the significance of the social construction of reality in maintaining social order?

The social construction of reality is significant in maintaining social order because it provides a shared understanding of the world that individuals accept as objective. This acceptance allows for the continuation of societal norms and practices, thereby preserving order.

What does the script suggest about the nature of society and its relationship with the individual?

The script suggests that society is not an external, objective entity but is a socially constructed entity. It challenges the belief that society is like the natural world, maintaining order independently of human constructs, and instead posits that society is entirely a creation of social interactions.