Like many other species, humanity has always had a strong herd instinct. The desire to
gather in large group seems to be an innate trait. This explains the appeal of gangs, clubs
and the like. The urge to gather ties back in rather intimately with the desire to socially
construct a reality. If a person were to join the Hell's Angels, and make that gang their
whole life, then that persons reality would shrink. Reality for that person would simply be
the gang. This shrinking of life makes reality more predictable and thus more easily
controlled. Therefore this type of socially constructed reality has always appealed to
those people who demand a high level of control over their existence. This is yet another
face of the idea that reality is socially constructed.
Unfortunately reality is not black and white, so it must be accepted that it is both
linguistically and socially constructed. It must also be accepted that the two types of
reality construction are different and separate. On the linguistic side, words give meaning
to abstract concepts which define human reality. Language allows the clear expression
and understanding of emotion, thoughts and philosophy. Yet another facet of the
linguistic construction of reality is the fact that language serves as a filter for reality. On
the social element, ritual, regulation and taboos give meaning to reality. The relationships
a person forms in their life makes up their reality, and the people they form the
relationships with affirm the person's own reality. The need to gather in large social
groupings is more proof that a person can construct their own reality through a large
grouping of people whom they choose to live with. This shows us that reality is both
linguistically and socially constructed.
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