Social representations as a perspective in social psychology

The concept of social representations introduced into social psychology by Moscovici and his collaborators has had a chequered reception in the English speaking world. It is in La Psychanalyse, son image et son public that Moscovici (1976a) elaborated the concept of social representation most fully, both theoretically and empirically. In the absence of a translation, even Moscovici's own English presentations of the concept have an abstract, general or programmatic character, since they introduce a theoretical perspective without the benefit of a clear demonstration of its value for empirical research (see Moscovici, 1973, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1988; Moscovici and Hewstone, 1983).

In calling the first chapter of his book ‘Social representation: a lost concept’ Moscovici implies that social psychology has become disengaged from a concern with the situation of psychological processes in social life. The concept of social representation is intended to restore to social psychology an awareness of the social by providing the means for comprehending social life from a psychological perspective. Such a perspective is a necessary prerequisite for understanding the influence of social relations on psychological processes.

Moscovici defines social representations as