Earlier studies of context usually followed the research paradigm of formal structuralism, without integrating into it the cognitive, psychological and social dimensions.This is, however, totally changed by van Dijk's exploration into an integrated, multidisciplinary theory of context.Based on the major problem posed by current context research, this paper intends to give a brief review of van Dijk's main claims about the socio-cognitive approach to context.The new contribution not only further refines his theoretical model of discourse analysis, but also facilitates the emergence of Critical Cognitive Linguistics.