A atribuição de responsabilidade: da cognição ao sujeito

Abstract

The study of the processes of holding and taking responsibility is especially important for understanding the neoliberal political discourse that appeals, in a paradoxical way, to individual values in order to face social problems. The assignment of responsibility has been addressed in social psychology mainly in the context of the causal attribution theory. Although Heider’s original proposal is complex and susceptible to a sociological development, the author opts for a individual cognitive approach. In our opinion it is necessary to extend the study of the processes of accountability in the direction of a consideration of its social nature. In this way we appeal to the work of Gustav Ichheiser as well as to some recent approaches about social constitution of the subject such as that by Axel Honneth.