The Fabric of Reality

This paper, after a brief review of social construction theory and its application to identity, emotions, and relationships, explores the introduction of social construction of reality into the basic communication course. It offers the broad based theoretical perspective as a way to open the minds of entering college students and to integrate the sometimes disparate units of the basic course. The paper discusses the uses of social construction of reality as a foundation for teaching students about communication processes. Specifically, the paper offers ways to introduce the theory and tie it to various foundational concepts: communication models; perception; attribution; self-concept; etc. It then considers how the areas of interpersonal communication, small group communication, and public communication (public speaking) become different contexts for constructing and sharing social realities. Contains 11 references. (Author/CR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ****************************************************************:c****Ah oo ri tA Teaching social construction of reality in the basic course: Opening minds and integrating units b