Berger and Luckmann, referred to above, and in an essay by Berger
(1971) setting out a possible framework for the sociology of
knowledge, and in the writings of Sorokin (1947) on group
identity.
Berger (1971:97) in his paper, Identity as a Problem in the
Sociology of Knowledge sets out to interpret the sociology of
knowledge
as the sociological critique of consciousness
concerning itself with the social construction
of reality in general. Such a critique entails
the analysis of both 'objective reality' (that
is, 'knowledge' about the world as Objectivated
and taken for granted in society) and its subjective
correlates (that is, the modes in which this Objectivated
world is subjectively plausible or real to the
individual).
His thesis is that
The sphere of psychological phenomena is continuously
permeated by social forces and more than that, is
decisively shaped by the latter.
V
Identity, sociologically speaking, is always identity
within a specific 'world* of meaning that is socially constructed.
Indeed it is the location in a common world that is the key to
the definition of identity.
One identifies oneself, as one is identified by
others, by being located in a common world (Berger, 1971:97).
Location in a world involves also location within a
particular psychological model.
Such a 'model' is part of the society's general
knowledge about the world raised to the level of
theorizing (1971:98).
As an illustration one could cite the fact that for tradition-
oriented Aborigines such a psychological model of the 'world' is
based on the Law. Theorizing about the 'world* encapsulates
theorizing about the Law and makes possible a certain psychological
reality.