Social Psychology from Flat to Round

Intersubjectivity and Space in Peter Sloterdijk's Bubbles

Bibliographic Data

ID8975340
AuthorsJeff Stepnisky (0000-0001-5153-3446, MacEwan University, corresponding author), Jeffrey Stepnisky (Department of Sociology MacEwan University RM 6‐398E, 10700‐104 Avenue Edmonton Alberta T5J‐4S2 Canada)
Year2014
Volume44
Issue4
Pages413-435
Publication date2014-03-28
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal for the Theory of Social Behaviour (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-8308 • E-ISSN: 1468-5914
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jtsb.12060
OpenAlexW1928208366
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited18

In this paper I describe the relevance of philosopher Peter Sloterdijk's (1998/2011) book Bubbles for social psychology. Bubbles offers the opportunity for the development of what I call a round social psychology. This is in contrast to the flatness characteristic of some of the more influential contemporary varieties of social psychology. Flat social psychology stays close to the ground, and is focused on the coordination of action. Round social psychology describes the atmosphere that surrounds and makes interaction possible in the first place. It requires a theory that links intersubjectivity with spatiality. To describe flat social psychology I analyze the assumptions of three contemporary versions of social psychology: social cognition theory, Goffman's dramaturgy, and Gergen's relational psychology. I then describe in greater detail Sloterdijk's bubble philosophy and the characteristics of round social psychology

Aesthetics · Cognition · Critical psychology · Dramaturgy · Epistemology · Intersubjectivity · Psychoanalysis · Social cognition · Social science · Sociology · Action Observation and Synchronization · Emotions and Moral Behavior · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Representations and Identity

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