[Ailist] Social Constructionism

[Kenneth Gergen]

Just returning from travels to find this exchange...yes, this is a  
simple but effective exercise that I devised, but the lessons on  
social construction that I draw from this are different from the  
question mentioned here. There are several important points:
	- Each description of the room issues from a particular group of  
people or community (and not from an individual's mind or perception)
	- Outside any community, there is nothing that can be said about the  
space.
	- The descriptions don't simply point to or focus on different  
things, they create totally different worlds of significance (there  
is no "combustible" in the language of the interior decorator or  
robber, for example, and no "color coordination" in the world of a  
robber. )
	- The descriptions differ not only in terms of what is said to be  
present, but as well as what is absent. The fire inspector (as I  
typically include) may "see" the absence of an extinguisher, or the  
interior decorator the absence of color.
	- Each description is related to the values of the particular group  
(e.g. preventing fires, decorating, stealing). In effect, what we  
hold to be real is intimately linked with what is valuable within our  
communities.
			I hope this helps...for a short introduction to social  
construction, see my little primer with Mary, Social Construction,  
Entering the Dialogue (Taos Institute Publications), and for a more  
extensive introduction, the second edition of my book, An Invitation  
to Social Construction, was just published by Sage. Ken



	
On Apr 4, 2009, at 8:32 PM, Nancy Stetson wrote:

>> Hi Bill,
>
> I think it was Ken Gergen who suggested this, or maybe Jane  
> Magruder Watkins.
>
> If people are seated in table groups, give each group an index card  
> with a "profession"written on it (to keep secret at their table);  
> then ask each group to quietly brainstorm a description of the room  
> they're in from that point of view.  Samples might be: fire  
> fighter, robber, interior decorator, etc. After about five minutes  
> or so, ask each table to report out their description of the  
> trainign room.  Obviously, each description is going to be quite  
> different because of the particular point of view -- the focus of  
> their attention.
>
> Then ask the question:  So, what's going on?  Did the room change?   
> That should give you a great opening for a bit of theory.
>
> Enjoy!
>
> Nancy
>
>
>
>> Hello all,
>>
>>
>>
>> My apologies if this message shows up on the List twice. I tried  
>> posting
>> this message up on the List early yesterday morning, but I haven't  
>> seen it
>> yet so I thought I'd try again
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm putting together a workshop on appreciative negotiations for a  
>> client. I
>> want to include a small piece on social constructionism (maybe 30  
>> minutes in
>> total). I'd like to provide people with a basic understanding of the
>> concepts and their application in a negotiations setting.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have materials I need for a short Lecturette. What I'm  
>> interested in, is
>> whether anyone on the List has a good exercise that they'd be  
>> willing to
>> share - one that helps participants to understand the concepts
>> experientially. I've checked all the usual places - eg AI Commons,  
>> various
>> AI books I have on my shelf, etc. I also searched for a short e- 
>> clip on the
>> subject to no avail.
>>
>>
>>
>> If anyone has any ideas, I'd greatly appreciate them.
>>
>>
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Bill Scott BSW, MBA
>>
>>
>>
>> Elpis Consulting
>>
>> (formerly WJS Consulting)
>>
>> Vancouver, B.C., Canada
>>
>> wjs.consulting at shaw.ca
>>
>> 604-574-1856
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
> -- 
> Nancy's latest book, Stories of Positive Change in the Community  
> College: Appreciative Inquiry in Action, is available at http:// 
> stores.lulu.com/companyofexperts
>
> Nancy E. Stetson, Ed.D.
> * Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator
> * Mentor and Assessor, Ph.D. in Education Program
> 	Specializing in Community College Leadership
> 	Walden University
>
> Everything is made of energy (quantum theory)
> Energy can neither be created nor destroyed (first law of  
> thermodynamics)
> _______________________________________________
> The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David  
> Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain  
> is the list administrator. For subscription information, go to:
> http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist