The explanation of social behaviour requires an understanding of individual
orientations to social issues as these exist relative to others. This thesis argues
that whilst the attitude concept and social representations have illuminated
certain aspects of social behaviour, both are handicapped by a restricted focus.
The former’s focus on the evaluation of attitude objects excludes a reference to
wider societal processes. The latter provides an account of societal
contingencies, but excludes an explanation of individual orientations towards
objects and issues in the social environment. This thesis postulates the point of
view concept to bridge this gap, that provides an explanation of social
behaviour at the situational level. This complements attitude and social
representations in a nested, multilevel explanation of social behaviour. The
point of view is defined as an outlook towards a social event, expressed as a
claim, which can be supported by an argument of opinion based on a system of
knowledge from which it derives its logic. It reflects an individual’s
orientation towards a social object, relative to others. This thesis has
demonstrated, in a series of empirical studies, that the point of view can be
typified in three categories. A monological point of view is closed to another’s
perspective. A dialogical point of view acknowledges another’s perspective
but dismisses it as wrong. A metalogical point of view acknowledges the
relativity of its’ perspective, and concedes to an alternative the possibility of
being right. These different types were demonstrated to be characterised by
differences in positioning and in individuals’ capacity to fit a given social
reality. Such relational outcomes accrue as a function of the socio-cognitive
structure of points of view in relation with another perspective. This thesis
demonstrates that points of view, alongside attitudes and social
representations, provides a multilevel explanation of social behaviou
