The Theory of Social Representation: Its Various Models and Their Imbrication

Abstract

This article begins with a summary of the four major theoretical and methodological models of social representations—the sociogenetic, structural, sociodynamic and dialogical models—and then explores new and original approaches to integrating these frameworks. The aim is to move beyond the mere accumulation or juxtaposition usually used in presenting these models and to propose methods for imbricating and interweaving them from three perspectives: conceptual innovation, methodological innovation and the temporal logic of research. We demonstrate how these imbrications—though still requiring extensive empirical research—facilitate a better understanding of how individuals and groups represent the objects in their environment.