Knowledge in Context: Representations, Community and Culture

Knowledge in Context by Sandra Jovchelovitch explores how representation is a social psychological construct that is at the basis of all knowledge. It examines the dominant assumptions of western conceptions of knowledge and the quest for a unitary reason free from the 'impurities of person, community, and culture'. It also evaluates the last decade of research since Knowledge in Context first appeared and reassesses the social psychology of the contemporary public sphere, exploring how challenges to the dialogicality of representations reconfigure both community and selfhood.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 14 March 2019
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Knowledge in Context, a seminal work by Sandra Jovchelovitch, delves into the intricate societal and cultural forces that shape the development of human representational processes. Through a novel analysis of representation, Jovchelovitch contends that representation, a social psychological construct encompassing self, other, and object-world relationships, forms the foundation of all knowledge. By engaging in dialogues between psychology, sociology, and anthropology, Jovchelovitch challenges prevailing Western notions of knowledge and explores the quest for a unified reason free from the "impurities" of person, community, and culture.

In this revised edition, Jovchelovitch examines the dominant assumptions of Western conceptions of knowledge and explores historical comparisons between the knowledge of adults and children, "civilized" and "primitive" peoples, scientists, and lay communities. She also examines the ambivalence of classical theorists such as Piaget, Vygotsky, Freud, Durkheim, and Lévy-Bruhl in addressing these issues.

The book includes a new introductory chapter that evaluates the last decade of research since Knowledge in Context first appeared and reassesses the social psychology of the contemporary public sphere. It explores how challenges to the dialogicality of representations reconfigure both community and selfhood in the early 21st century.

This comprehensive book is a must-read for scholars and researchers interested in the cutting-edge debates on knowledge and representation in social, cultural, developmental psychology, sociology, anthropology, development, and cultural studies. It offers insightful perspectives and valuable insights into the complex interplay between society, culture, and the individual mind.

Weight: 388g
Dimension: 159 x 232 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138042896