Social Texts and Context: Literature and Social Psychology

Social Texts and Context explores how psychological concepts like femininity, environment, groups, and the self are constructed in discourse through the analysis of novels by Thomas Hardy, Barbara Cartland, Doris Lessing, C. P. Snow, Charles Dickens, and Robert Musil. It discusses the theoretical approaches of Roland Barthes, Rom Harre, Jonathan Culler, Henri Tajfel, Irving Janis, and Paul Willis. The book emphasizes that contemporary life is shaped by discourse and that texts play a fundamental role in organizing social life. It is of interest to students of literature and psychology.

Format: Hardback
Length: 198 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

First published in 1984, Social Texts and Context delves into the intricate ways in which familiar psychological concepts such as femininity, the environment, groups, and the self are constructed within discourse. Through a comprehensive examination of novels by renowned authors like Thomas Hardy, Barbara Cartland, Doris Lessing, C. P. Snow, Charles Dickens, and Robert Musil, the book explores the theoretical frameworks of Roland Barthes, Rom Harre, Jonathan Culler, Henri Tajfel, Irving Janis, and Paul Willis. The development of literary theory, including semiology and deconstruction, as well as theories of social action such as ethogenics and discourse analysis, challenges the notion of literary and psychological texts as neutral mediums of communication. Instead, the authors argue that texts should be viewed as fundamental in shaping social life. They demonstrate how contemporary life, both in personal and professional realms, is permeated by discourse, conversations, newspaper articles, novels, scientific reports, and other forms of textual expression. This book holds immense interest for students of literature and psychology, offering valuable insights into the complex interplay between language, society, and the human psyche.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032575131