Week3: The Social Construction of Reality-GUO YING

 1. Summary

The article I read this week is The Social Construction of Reality. This chapter explores how society shapes our ways of thinking and understanding of reality. The authors argue that reality is not an objective and fixed existence, but rather a result of continuous construction and maintenance through human interactions. In other words, what we consider to be “taken for granted” is not inherently so, but is shaped over time by society. Within this framework, our beliefs, values, and even our sense of identity are all influenced by the social environment. Reading this article gave me new insights into many aspects of daily life. I used to view reality as a given, unquestionable fact, but the perspective of Berger and Luckmann made me realize that the world we live in is not a single “reality” but one that is co-constructed by countless individuals. Throughout our lives, we are taught various societal ideas and gradually accept them as “truths,” yet these ideas are often products of history and culture, not absolute, unchanging principles. For instance, our understanding of identity, gender, and success may simply be the result of social norms rather than being based on some immutable essence. This realization made me start to reflect on whether some of the beliefs I hold are the result of personal experience or shaped by societal influences.

2. Interesting Points

One point that interests me is that the construction of social reality is not fixed, but rather dynamically evolving. As the social environment changes, our ways of thinking also adjust accordingly. Emerging factors such as technology, media, and social platforms are continuously shaping new social realities, which means we need to develop stronger critical thinking and constantly reflect on our cognitive frameworks. In this age of information overload, the perspectives we encounter may not be simple facts, but rather constructed realities. Therefore, simply accepting surface-level information is not enough; we need to continually think about the logic and motivations behind these pieces of information in order to avoid passively accepting the “realities” imposed by society.

3. Conclusion

Overall, this article has given me a deeper understanding of social reality. It helped me realize that reality is not fixed but continuously shaped and reconstructed. Each of us lives within a certain social construct, but this does not mean we should passively accept it. Instead, we should maintain a critical mindset, being aware of which beliefs are imposed by society and which ones truly align with our own cognition and experiences. Through this approach, we can find a clearer sense of self-identity in society and more consciously engage in the process of shaping social reality.

4. Discussion

Can we fully escape the influence of social constructs and create a completely autonomous “reality”?   

To what extent do individuals play a role in the construction of social reality?





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