Social Representations : Studies in Social Psychology

Serge Moscovici first introduced the concept of socialrepresentations into contemporary social psychology nearly fortyyears ago. Since then the theory has become one of the predominantapproaches in social psychology, not only in continental Europe,but increasingly in the Anglo-Saxon world as well. WhileMoscovici's work has spread broadly across the discipline, notablythrough his contributions to the study of minority influences andof the psychology of crowds, the study of social representationshas continued to provide the central focus for one of the mostdistinctive and original voices in social psychology today. This volume brings together some of Moscovici's classicstatements of the theory of social representations, as well aselaborations of the distinctive features of this perspective insocial psychology. In addition the book includes some recent essaysin which he re-examines the intellectual history of socialrepresentations, exploring the diverse ways in which this theoryhas responded to a tradition of thought in the social scienceswhich encompasses not only the contributions of Durkheim andPiaget, but also those of Lévy-Bruhl and Vygotsky. The finalchapter of the book consists of a long interview with IvanaMarková, in which Moscovici not only reviews his ownintellectual itinerary but also gives his views on some of the keyquestions facing social psychology today. The publication of this volume provides an essential source forthe study of social representations and for an assessment of thework of a social psychologist who has consistently sought tore-establish the discipline as a vital element of the socialsciences.