Culture, Society & Technology

Technological Determinism vs. Social Constructivism

Today…

• What exactly IS technology, and why are social scientists interested in it?

• Social Constructivism vs. Technological Determinism: Does society influence technology or does technology influence society? (or both…?)

Technology

• Technology: Universe of tools, means and methods we use to interact with environment

• Includes anything that helps us do things we could not otherwise do, or lets us do them cheaper, faster, easier

Social Studies ofScience and Technology

• Also known as “Science and technology studies,” “Science, technology and society studies”

• 1960s: social movement with interest in controlling technology due to perceived impact on society

• 1980s: academic field with focus on creating knowledge rather than informing policy

• Encompasses many different fields including several of the social sciences, all united by interest in intersection of society, technology, culture

The Relationship Between Technology & Society

Technology SocietyTechnological Determinism – Hard version

Society is influenced by technology

Technology SocietySocial Constructivism – Hard versionTechnology is influenced by society

Technology Society“Soft” Determinism or “Weak” Constructivism

Technology both influences and is influenced by society

Technological Determinism• Technology influences society, but society does not influence

technology

• Technological development is an autonomous process independent of society

• Technological, not social, factors determine success of a technology; the inherent superiority of a technology leads to its success

• Technology develops in a linear fashion

Example of Technological Determinism

Example of Technological Determinism

Social Constructivism

• Society influences technology

• Technology is a dimension of society

• Technologies do not succeed due to superiority alone – also social factors, relevant social groups

• Technological development is not linear

Example of Social Constructivism

Video: AOL Commercial - 1995

Genevieve Bell

• Anthropologist at Intel – Interaction and Exeperience Research Director

• Technologies are adapted by cultures to support EXISTING patterns of behavior

Genevieve Bell

• Anthropologist at Intel – Interaction and Exeperience Research Director

• Technologies are adapted by cultures to support EXISTING patterns of behavior

Sherry Turkle

• Psychologist at MIT – Professor of Social Studies of Science and Technology

• People are increasingly dependent on technologies, and increasingly disconnected from each other

Sherry Turkle

• Psychologist at MIT – Professor of Social Studies of Science and Technology

• People are increasingly dependent on technologies, and increasingly disconnected from each other

Video: Sherry Turkle, Connected, but Alone?

Next time…

The Individual & Society

Conformity & DeviancePersonality & Culture