Abstract:

The target of this article is to analyze theoretically the understanding and interpretation of the theory of social representations of S.Moskovici, investigating them in a society of Latvia and preparing psychology specialists in higher education establishments. In the first part of article – the development of the theory of social representations the commencement of the theory of social conception is shortly described, and the analysis of the term of E.Durkheim “collective representations” is performed. In the second part – the essence of the theory of social representations of French psychologist S.Moskovici is described. The root point of conclusions of S.Moskovici is his thesis about the world of representation – a peculiar “kind of the reality”, with which the individual comes into the contact in the daily life. The anchoring and objectification make mechanisms of social perceptions that connect with the categorization, language, verbalization, and memory. In the third part of the article – the mentioned investigations that are performed in Europe are investigations of social representations, starting with the investigation of S.Moskovici psychoanalysis of S.Moskovici till nowadays. However, the analysis of social representations are not widespread in Latvia due to different delaying factors. However, as one of the main important investigations can be named the promotion work of A.Ruza on European Community states. In the fourth part of the article – the theory of social representations in education - the multi-side use and inclusion of the theory of social conceptions in Europe in study programs, as well as the use of this program in other Universities of Latvia, implementing studies not only in the area of psychology, but also in the area of other sciences. In the last fifth part of the article conclusions and proposals are given that are essential for the development of studies and investigation of social representations in Latvia: 1) The development of new investigation projects, uniting the total scientific potential; 2) The translation of works of representatives and critics of social representations in Latvian must be promoted, as well as the study course options must be developed and proposed where students of Latvian Universities could participate; 3) Investigation processes must be promoted, including the new generation in them, expanding publishing possibilities, including, solving issues in the level of state about the support to magazines of professional areas; 4) In the context of searching new ideas and approaches, the mutual cooperation of scientists must be promoted, including representatives of other social and humanitarian sciences in an investigation of social representations, that conforms basically to the inter-disciplinary access, popular in the world, letting to look at already known things with a new view.

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