From Collective to Social Representations: Aller et Retour

Abstract

A century ago this year Durkheim (1898), in distinguishing collective from individual representations, separated sociology from psychology. In formulating his theory of social representations more than half a century later, Moscovici (1961/1976) established a sociological form of social psychology. Differences between sociological and psychological forms of social psychology are briefly discussed and a distinction is drawn between ancestors and founders. Durkheim is an ancestor of the theory of social representations whilst Moscovici is its founder. The rationale for moving from collective to social representations is outlined and a case established for a move, now, in the reverse direction. In modernizing Durkheim, Moscovici is more successful in preserving an explicitly social social psychology than he is in handling the notion of culture within his theory of social representations. Changes in the notion of culture in the period of late modernity are noted. Proposals are made for restoring the cultural dimension in (a) psychology and (b) social psychology.