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Social Constructionism and the Standard Social Science Model
Even today, “social constructionists” cling to the Standard Social Science Model, the dogma that biology doesn’t matter. This makes about as much sense as insisting people are born with “blank slate” bodies. At birth, humans have a head (containing a blank slate brain, of course) that’s attached to a formless blank slate body. A blob. When you’re born, presumably, the attending obstetrician or midwife begins to shape you—a blob—into a torso, then arms and legs and fingers and toes. Others in the social environment join in, shaping other bits of you-the-blob into your heart and lungs and, let’s not forget, your naughty bits. Over the years, society colonizes and socially constructs your blank slate brain and teaches you a narrative of what your body is supposed to be...
Thinking about the brain and behaviour has changed since the days of the behaviourists, as summarized by the cognitive neuroscientist, Michael S. Gazzaniga:
No scientist seriously questions whether we are the product of natural selection. We are a finely honed machine that has amazing capacities for learning and inventiveness. Yet these capacities were not picked up at a local bookstore or developed from everyday experience. The abilities to learn and think come with our brains. The knowledge we acquire with these devices results from interactions with our culture. But the devices come with the brain, just as the brakes come with the car.