From the Study of Social Practice to the Study of “Distance to the Object”

Keywords: social representations, social practices, distance to the object, Jean-Claude Abric

This article, written in memory of Jean-Claude Abric, aims to present some conceptual

developments of the so called “Ecole Aixoise” concerning the role of social practices in the

dynamic of SR, explore some characteristics of the notion of social practices and the ambiguities

and issues associated with this notion in the field of SR, and present a recent conceptual option

entitled “Distance to the Object”.

Lionel Dany, Aix Marseille Université

LIONEL DANY is professor of Social Psychology and researcher at the Laboratory of Social

Psychology of the University of Aix-Marseille. He is the director of the Department of Social

and Work Psychology of this University. His main research interests focus on social

representations (methodological issues, theoretical development, social representations of health

and illness, representations of risks) social psychology of health (perceptions and representations

of illness and care, supportive care).