Part 1
How have psychologists defined the concept ‘nations’? Using materials
from Week 8, compare and contrast different psychological factors which
explain how nations are socially constructed. (1500 words)
Nations, as a concept can be looked upon in many ways. What the true significance
of nations represents shall be discussed throughout this essay. This essay shall be
comparing and contrasting studies/theories by famous psychologists such as
Michael Billig among others, whilst looking at the ways in which a ‘nation’ functions
and as a whole is considered. In the first part of this essay a brief overview of the
perspective of social constructionists will be acknowledged. This essay will then go
on to look at and explain in detail subjects involved with nations such as, national
identities, national boundaries and hot and banal nationalism, aswell as delving into
subjects such as immigration along the way.
Nations are not ‘natural’ communities, they are historically and socially constructed
(The Open University, 2023). Social constructionism is an approach used within
psychology that refers to the facts that the meaning of a ‘nation’ has been socially
constructed through history and political policies (Andreouli,2021) There are various
ways that a nation can be constructed, some of which has caused much debate in
the world for centuries, nations continue to change over time as a consequence of
hot and banal nationalism, national identities and national boundaries. The
construction of nations can lead to different views and opinions on what it means to
be a particular nationality for example ‘British’(Andreouli,2021).
Banal nationalism was developed by Michael Billig (1995), Banal nationalism refers
to everyday things that can simply go unnoticed that represent one’s nation, for
example a flag on a street, a sporting event on television or official uniforms (The
Open University,2023). Billigs theory is that Banal nationalism is a result of one’s
routine habits (Andreouli,2021). Banal nationalism sets the foundation for hot
nationalism to thrive, such as nations going to war in name of their nation (The Open
University, 2023) National identity is something that is socially constructed, it is not
something that somebody is born with. It was only in modern times in which nations
started becoming the main source of an individual’s identification (Andreouli,2021).
How have psychologists defined the concept ‘nations’? Using materials
from Week 8, compare and contrast different psychological factors which
explain how nations are socially constructed. (1500 words)
Nations, as a concept can be looked upon in many ways. What the true significance
of nations represents shall be discussed throughout this essay. This essay shall be
comparing and contrasting studies/theories by famous psychologists such as
Michael Billig among others, whilst looking at the ways in which a ‘nation’ functions
and as a whole is considered. In the first part of this essay a brief overview of the
perspective of social constructionists will be acknowledged. This essay will then go
on to look at and explain in detail subjects involved with nations such as, national
identities, national boundaries and hot and banal nationalism, aswell as delving into
subjects such as immigration along the way.
Nations are not ‘natural’ communities, they are historically and socially constructed
(The Open University, 2023). Social constructionism is an approach used within
psychology that refers to the facts that the meaning of a ‘nation’ has been socially
constructed through history and political policies (Andreouli,2021) There are various
ways that a nation can be constructed, some of which has caused much debate in
the world for centuries, nations continue to change over time as a consequence of
hot and banal nationalism, national identities and national boundaries. The
construction of nations can lead to different views and opinions on what it means to
be a particular nationality for example ‘British’(Andreouli,2021).
Banal nationalism was developed by Michael Billig (1995), Banal nationalism refers
to everyday things that can simply go unnoticed that represent one’s nation, for
example a flag on a street, a sporting event on television or official uniforms (The
Open University,2023). Billigs theory is that Banal nationalism is a result of one’s
routine habits (Andreouli,2021). Banal nationalism sets the foundation for hot
nationalism to thrive, such as nations going to war in name of their nation (The Open
University, 2023) National identity is something that is socially constructed, it is not
something that somebody is born with. It was only in modern times in which nations
started becoming the main source of an individual’s identification (Andreouli,2021).
