- Current section: Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Embodiment
- 2 Identity and the body
- 3 Phenomenological accounts
- References
- Acknowledgements
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The body: A phenomenological psychological perspective
The body has traditionally been treated as a biological object in psychology....
The body has traditionally been treated as a biological object in psychology. However, is there more to our bodies than that? Some psychologists recognise that we relate to other people and the world about us through our body. This unit explores the theoretical perspective on embodiment: the phenomenological psychological perspective.
By the end of this study unit you will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of fundamental aspects of the theory and methodology underpinning phenomenological psychology;
- critique simplistic mind–body, individual–social and agency–structure dualisms and appreciate how the body, self and society are interconnected;
- describe how phenomenological psychologists conceptualise the body.
- Duration: 15 hours
- Published on: Thursday 9th June 2011
- Level: Advanced
- Posted under: Sociology
Contents
The body: A phenomenological psychological perspective
Introduction

The body has traditionally been treated as a biological object in psychology. However, some psychologists believe there is more to our bodies than that as they recognise that it is through the body that we relate to other people and the world about us. This unit explores one particular theoretical perspective on embodiment: the phenomenological psychological perspective. This is an approach to psychology that acknowledges the social nature of embodiment, placing embodied experience centre stage in all psychological understanding.
this unit is an adapted extract from the Open University course Social psychology: critical perspectives on self and others (DD307) [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
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- Creative-Commons: The Open University is proud to release this free course under a Creative Commons licence. However, any third-party materials featured within it are used with permission and are not ours to give away. These materials are not subject to the Creative Commons licence. See terms and conditions. Full details can be found in the Acknowledgements section.
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