Lay Theories of Liberation

Abstract

Lay theories of liberation are how people understand and what they associate with liberation in their own lives. This research explores this topic with interviews at two historical monuments, the George Bush Presidential Library and the Alamo. The goal of this study is to examine popular lay theories of liberation and freedom, and determine whether geographic location (the historical monument) plays a role in how those lay theories are formed. I will be conducting interviews at each location, transcribing the interviews, and examining each for common lay theories of liberation and differences between locations. I expect to find common themes throughout the interviews and see differences in content based on the geographic location and historical significance of the monument.