Discursive cognition

For other uses of the word, see discursive

Discursive cognition is better known as discursive psychology. It is a school of psychology developed in the 1990s by Jonathan Potter and Derek Edwards at Loughborough University. It is based on the philosophy of language of Wittgenstein, and the conversation analysis of Harvey Sacks. Discursive psychologists tend to make very detailed studies of the 'real world' use of language, in an attempt to see how language functions as a social process. It is philosophically opposed to more traditional cognitivist approaches to language.

Further reading

• Edwards, D., & Potter, J. (1992). 'Discursive Psychology'. London: Sage.