Technology as Materialized Action and Its Ambivalences

The paper attempts to overcome an abstract juxtaposition of human beings and technology and to develop an understanding of the technological mediation of human subjectivity and the inner relation between sociability and materiality. In contrast to the widespread notion of technological products being unproblematic means to an end, solely expanding human agency and disposition over the world, the argumentation puts the case for an understanding of technology as materialized action and contradictory forms of life. Taking this as a basis, the paper identifies in reference to Critical Psychology as well as theories from the field of science and technology studies different dimensions of the ambivalence of technology and its meaning in human life. Furthermore the paper develops suggestions of how psychological theory might contribute to a critical social study of technology.