 |
Kenneth GergenAmerican psychologist. Supporter of the theory of social constructionism.
Country:
 USA |
Content:
Kenneth J. Gergen: American Psychologist and Supporter of Social Constructionism
Kenneth J. Gergen is an American psychologist known for his advocacy of the theory of social constructionism. He currently holds the position of Gil and Frank Mustin Professor of Psychology at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and is also an Affiliate Professor of Psychology at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.
Contributions and Academic Career
Gergen played a significant role in the establishment of the Taos Institute in 1991, where he served as the President of the Council. Under his leadership and intellectual influence, the institute became a platform for the development of postmodernist criticism of traditional approaches in contemporary social psychology and the promotion of social constructionism.
Throughout his career, Gergen has authored numerous articles and 12 books, including "The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life" (1991), "Therapy as Social Construction" (1992, co-edited with S. McNamee), and "Realities and Relationships: Soundings in Social Construction" (1994). He is also a member of the editorial boards of several journals, including "Theory and Psychology," "Qualitative Research," "Journal of Constructivist Psychology," and "Communication Theory."
Personal Life and Family
Gergen, along with his wife Mary Gergen, publishes the newspaper "Positive Aging," which has a circulation of over 12,000 copies. His brother, David Gergen, is a well-known political strategist.
Controversial Views and Reception
One of Gergen's most famous works is "Social Psychology as History," in which he argues that the laws and principles of social interaction are constantly changing over time and that scientific knowledge created by social psychologists actively influences the phenomena they describe, rather than passively describing them. This article has been highly controversial, receiving both criticism and support from various social psychologists.
