A discursive psychology of institutions

Over the last decade or so discursive psychology has developed as a distinct perspective within social psychology, psychology and social science more generally (Edwards, 1997; Edwards & Potter, 1992; Potter & Edwards, 2001). One of the things that differentiates it from other approaches is its conceptualisation of psychology itself. Most social psychological takes as at least a central topic an inner representation or processing system of some kind. This is true of social cognition work, of social representations research, and of many strands of newer approaches to subjectivity. Inner representations and processes are seen as central to understanding human action. This paper is not intended to criticise this view; rather it will further develop a discursive psychological alternative.