Theory of the activity
Exit mainly of work of the theorists and Soviet psychologists of the beginning of the 20th century ( e.g. Leontiev, Vygotski, etc), the theory of the activity postulates that the Conscience is not a discrete whole of cognitive acts desincarnés (of English desembodied ) as such as decision making or classifications. It would be also distinct from the cerebral activity.
The theory of the activity locates the conscience in practice daily and affirms that the actions are always inserted in a made up social matrix individuals and artefacts. Thus, as the spirit functions through artefacts, its work cannot be unconditionally and exclusively related to the brain nor with the individual; it should be perceived as distributed in the dependant artefacts. The aforementioned artefacts bind the individuals and the actions in a permeable, changing and event-driven way.
Thus, the taking into account of the context and the artefact for the comprehension of the activity and the collective interaction is the fundamental character of the theory of the activity. The object of this theory is rather the complex systems of the co-operation -- at least of the interaction -- more than the individuals. Whereas certain approaches privilege the external representation, the theory of the activity attaches an major importance to the internalisation of the artefacts ( e.g. the data-processing medium within the framework of the co-operative work computer-assisted [[Yrjö Engeström|Engestrom]], the hand for a child which learns how to count on the fingers, etc) and with the processes of mediation.
Hierarchisation and typology of the activities
Three levels of the theory of the activity: - the activities are in close relationship with a conscious goal, a motivation and can give place to a multiplicity of actions. - the actions are carried out by operations which are compiled procedures . An action can serve several activities. - The actions and operations are in a dynamic relation which makes it possible an action to become an operation.
The characteristic “ objectifies ” reality
Internalisation/Externalisation
The medium
Dynamic development of the activities
Category: Cognitive sciences Category: Theory
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