The social representations theory is the main objective of this bibliographical review paper, that initiates by the discussion of the prevailing scientific paradigms and also how the theory in question remains in a position of rupture with these paradigms. Developed under the need of building a social psychology that outperformed the individual and society dichotomy, the theory includes an amount of objects concerning the communication and the elaboration of behavior among individuals and groups. The text also criticizes the theory, particularly concerning to its relationship with the concept of ideology, proposed by several authors. Anyhow, the fecundity of its concepts and the wide use that it can be submitted to make the social representations theory an important construct not only for psychology, but also for the disciplines of the humanity area.
Social representation; Paradigm; Psychology; Social psychology
