The Social Construction of Reality (Berger & Luckmann)

The Social Construction of Reality, as explained by Berger and Luckmann, is the idea that our understanding of what is real is shaped by social interactions and shared beliefs. Through everyday communication and societal practices, people create and maintain a common framework of knowledge—like language, norms, and institutions—that influences how we perceive the world and ourselves. This means that much of what we consider “reality” isn't just natural or given, but is constructed collectively over time, embedded in our social context and continually reinforced through ongoing interactions.