The social construction of the environment is a concept that refers to the ways in which societies and cultures perceive, understand, and interact with the natural world around them. It suggests that our understanding of what represents the natural environment is not a simple reflection of the physical world but rather a product of societal norms, values, beliefs, and practices. In this essay, we explore the various dimensions of environmental social construction and its implications for how humans interact with their surroundings.
At the most basic level, social constructionists argue that our perceptions of the environment are filtered through cultural lenses that shape what we see and how we understand it (Berger & Luckmann, 1966). For instance, different cultures have distinct ways of categorizing and valuing parts of the natural world, which influences their environmental behavior (Douglas, 1966). The Western concept of wilderness, for instance, often evokes images of pristine, untouched landscapes. This idea, deeply rooted in romantic and transcendental thought, construes certain natural areas as worthy of preservation while others, less fitting this idealized view, may be deemed expendable (Cronon, 1995).
Language further illustrates the social construction of the environment. Our terms for nature and natural phenomena are not neutral descriptors but carry connotations that reflect cultural attitudes and priorities (Foucault, 1972). When a forest is referred to as 'timber resources,' it implies a utilitarian perspective that foregrounds economic uses over ecological or aesthetic values. Similarly, the discourse around 'natural disasters' frames such events in a way that often ignores how human activity and development choices contribute to the severity of their impact (Hewitt, 1983).
The way societies construct the environment has tangible effects on environmental policy and management. Take, for instance, the concept of sustainability. Though ostensibly aimed at preserving ecological systems, interpretations of sustainability are often laden with political, economic, and social considerations that shape environmental practices (Hajer, 1995). Industries might promote 'sustainable' practices that nonetheless support extractive and consumptive patterns, while communities may resist certain sustainability initiatives due to perceived threats to their way of life or economic stability.
Social Construction of Technology Technology …almost everything is negotiable: what is certain and what is not: who is a scientist and who is a technologist; what is technological and what is social; and who can participate in the controversy. (Pinch & Bijker, 1984) The Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) is a theory within several areas including philosophy of technology, sociology of science, and science & technology studies. The theory was developed in the
Social Construction Theory of Reality by Peter Berger and Thomas Luckman Applied to the novel "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain Peter Berger and Thomas Luckman's book entitled, "The Social Construction Theory of Reality" discusses how an individual and the society is related to the construction of reality in life as one perceives it to be. Berger and Luckman present various elements that influence the construction of 'reality' of an individual. The
Social Construction of Deviance Deviance is generally a learned behavior, and a social construction. In the report on college binge drinking, that is seen by the finding that two out of every five students in a four-year college are binge drinkers. That was true for each of the years in which the survey was conducted. When looking at frequent binges, meaning at least three times in a two-week period, the number
Social Construction of Difference Allan Johnson's article discusses how various forms of difference in American society are socially constructed. He begins his argument by referring to a comment made by American novelist James Baldwin who once suggested that there in reality were no blacks or whites, but only the perceptions of blackness and whiteness. Johnson and Baldwin do not reject the physiological differences people may have, but Johnson's powerful argument suggests that
Social Construction of Race and Gender The purpose of this article is to explore the methods by which Social Construction of Race and Gender are reproduced in the 21st century. In the past, commonplace social practices of discrimination such as segregation in schools, restrictive covenants and redlining in housing, "whites only" drinking fountains, blacks on the back of the bus, and the KKK left no question about the role of racism
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now