Discursive Psychology (DP)

Discursive psychology (DP) studies psychological themes which arise within talk (especially transcribed), text, or symbolic interaction. It investigates how emotions, attitudes, memory, and other topics are viewed by the participants. This new field, which was only developed it the late 20th century, looks at discourse as shaping actions; it deviates from the principle of cognitive psychology which views talk as caused by mental states. For instance, discursive psychologists analyze how 911 dispatchers' instructions and questions soothe callers' fears as well as efficiently extract the needed information.