Psychology

Selves, societies, and social sciences: Pluralism in a changing global world

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This essay reviews two books addressing the nature of the self, and relationships between self and others in the context of modernity and globalization. While each book has many merits of its own, they provide for a particularly interesting and thought-provoking joint reading. I see them as opening up a broader debate about pluralism of self and philosophy of the social sciences. Rather than a self in the singular characteristic of Adams' post-Freudian account, the contemporary self may have a psychology, for example, of superegos, identities, and reflexivities. Furthermore, in order to address the nature of selves, relationships, and societies in a way that is valid and applicable in a global world, we also need to rethink the social sciences in plural terms. The challenge and opportunity that we face today, in my view, is one of bridging universal theories with cultural ones. © The Author(s) 2012.

Publication Title

Theory and Psychology

Publication Date

2012

Volume

22

Issue

3

First Page

365

Last Page

369

ISSN

0959-3543

DOI

10.1177/0959354311421213

Keywords

bridging, culture, globalization, modernity, relationships, self, social sciences

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