Discourse analysis is a qualitative research method used in psychology to examine how language constructs meanings, identities, social realities, and relationships. It moves beyond analysing language as a simple reflection of thoughts or experiences and focuses on how communication is shaped by social, cultural, historical, and institutional contexts. Several important assumptions guide the use of discourse analysis in psychological research. One major assumption is that language is not neutral. Words and expressions do not merely describe an objective reality; they actively contribute to the construction of reality. For example, describing a person as “unemployed,” “job-seeking,” or “economically inactive” can create different understandings of the same situation. Therefore, discourse analysts examine how particular ways of speaking make certain meanings possible. A second assumption is that reality is socially constructed. Discourse analysis generally adopts a social constructionist perspective, which argues that knowledge and meanings develop through social interaction. What is considered normal, appropriate, true, or problematic can vary across cultures, historical periods, and social groups. Psychological concepts such as intelligence, mental illness, gender, childhood, or personality can therefore be examined in terms of how they are represented through particular discourses. Another important assumption is that language is