(Soc.)Reality

Zachary C.
Sociology
Professor G.
August 24

CT 1 -1

The social construction of reality is one of the key concepts in sociology. Potentially, there are as many "realities" as there are groups to construct them. Does this mean that there are no common features in the constructed reality? If commonality does occur, what is its source? Is there any "reality" besides those realities we socially construct?
Although there are many areas where humans overlap in their perceptions of the physical world, no society truly shares the same reality, although it appears that way. In America, this is often proved when members of a left or right political party think about moving to the center. When religious groups fracture into denominations. Even members of a pastor’s congregation do not always agree with they are taught, yet remain within that societal construct. Apparent unification comes by utilizing the same language. With only a given set of words, there can only be a given set of concepts spoken. Apparent commonality derives itself from the lack of truth unexpressed through language.
Telepathy would shatter our current social groups, people now knowing that their beliefs are truly different than everyone else, and that we are all aliens to each other.
At the root of any social construction of reality is the physical/chemical makeup of an individual’s brain. Despite receiving similar education and parenting, children develop into adults with remarkably diverse opinions of what occurs around them. From intense paranoia to gullible acceptance, an individual reaches adulthood with opinions and beliefs unforeseeable. An individual manages to construct a belief system out of thoughts communicated through language and also with some internal logic system. Although each individual perceives the physical world differently, there is a "range" that groups occupy.
This mixture of commonality and diversity still manages to produce an apparent cohesive group, supported through the inadequacy of language. Although, "Fire is hot and can burn," some societal groups have convinced themselves (and others) that fire is not hot and does not burn. The reasoning behind this is often metaphysical or in the belief that an unseen exterior force is at work.
When any group assembles, there are rarely two people who agree on what "truth" is. Where we can see commonality across different societies is when there is only one major source of information. For example, in a country with only one news outlet, that society will believe along a certain point of view. The "range" may have narrowed, but the value systems of each individual still varies.
When we see what appears to be a social consciousness is when similar beliefs come near each other. This can be from friends and family, or the education system we are raised in. The different realities we find throughout our society are not false, but merely humanity’s flawed system that has been created in an attempt to find order out of a complex world.