Publisher's Synopsis
This book, which is aimed at the undergraduate social psychology students, introduces a social constructionist approach which proposes that the meanings of material possessions are socially constituted and shared. Possessions are conceptualized as symbols of identity which can express and communicate an individuals's social position and personal qualities. Material context may therefore play a significant role in various areas of social cognition, a notion which runs counter to the contemporary Anglo-American conception of identity as unique, autonomous and free of contextual factors.
