Interobjectivity and Culture

The wide-ranging review by Coelho and Figueiredo (2003) serves as a useful point of departure for highlighting two major limitations of discussions on intersubjectivity: first, rifts between different specialized groups; second, reductionism. As an albeit modest step forward, I suggest, first, stronger links between groups of specialists exploring intersubjectivity. Second, responding to the reductionist nature of the concept of intersubjectivity, I introduce the concept of interobjectivity, the understandings that are shared within and between cultures about social reality. I propose that intersubjectivity arises out of interobjectivity, and that the concept of interobjectivity leads researchers to pay more attention to collective and inter-group processes. Groups have unequal levels of influence on shaping interobjectivity, with majority groups enjoying greatest influence.