Considered the leading contemporary European social psychologist for his
groundbreaking work on social influence and crowd psychology, Serge
Moscovici has played a definitive role in shaping the trajectory of
modern social inquiry. Bringing together the key texts in which he
outlines and defines his benchmark theory of social
representationsincluding several essays never previously published in
Englishhis indispensable sourcebook illustrates the enormous range and
scope of Moscovici's work.
Moscovici purports a theory of social representations remarkably
distinct from the dominant themes in contemporary U.S. social
psychology. In contrast to the traditionally individualistic emphasis,
Moscovici's work is embedded in a broader social and cultural tradition
and is passionately concerned with the social context in which meaning
is constructed and lives are enacted. His radical and lucid approach
offers fresh and multifarious ways of seeing the world while his clear
and coherent perspective provides a rich contribution to a discipline
which has been notoriously fragmented.
Addressing contemporary social phenomena rather than being trapped
within the artificial limits of laboratory experimentation, Moscovici
draws upon the diverse traditions of the wider social sciences, making
him a primary voice within the community of social theorists.
Sure to fascinate any researcher, scholar, student, or practitioner of
social psychology, Social Representations provides a representative and
long overdue collection of Moscovici's unique and important work.
