Abstract

CASTORINA, José Antonio. Some epistemological questions to think about the history of social psychology. Cultura representaciones soc [online]. 2021, vol.15, n.30, 00002.  Epub Feb 13, 2023. ISSN 2007-8110.

This paper aims, first of all, to interest historians about the ontological and epistemological premises, including their ethical and political values, which constitute an epistemic framework in scientific investigation. In psychologies, this epistemic framework is referred to as split and relational frameworks. Secondly, we shall examine the intervention of such values in the “methodological cycle”, focusing in the Social Representation Theory (SRT). Subsequently, we are introducing a significative controversy raised in the history of social psychology, between Discursive Psychology and Social Representation Theory. We shall argue its epistemological nature and particularly, the role played there by the epistemic frameworks. Thereafter, and on the basis of the so mentioned controversy, the most relevant issue is displayed: to contrast an “institutional” epistemology-which places any pshycology as an activity that legitimates diverse techniques of constitution of subjectivity -with a perspective centered on specific or independent study of investigation and construction of theories. We stand for an epistemological discussion recognizing the “ double phase” of psychology, in particular, srt. We think that this argument may combine issues concerning the “ validity” of knowledge with the intervention of epistemic frameworks and their social regulation as well as power relationship with the progress of knowledge. Finally,we shall examine if intervention of ethical and political values in srt research prevents achieving objectivity or otherwise if its critical and reasonable judgement, strengthens such intervention.

Keywords : social representations; social psychology; discursive psychology; epistemology; subjectivity; social regulation.

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