Culture and Cognition – Jerome Bruner – 1966
Culture and Cognition: A Spotlight
Jerome Bruner’s Culture and Cognition, originally published in 1966, represents a pivotal work in the field of cognitive psychology, moving beyond a purely behaviorist or computational understanding of the mind. The book explores how culture shapes the cognitive processes of individuals, arguing that cognition is not merely a universal, innate faculty but is profoundly influenced by the symbolic systems and social practices of a given culture.
What the Book Explores
Bruner’s central thesis revolves around the idea that cultures provide “tool kits” of cognitive skills and strategies. These tool kits differ across cultures, leading to varying ways of perceiving, remembering, and thinking. He examines six ‘situations’ – laboratory experiment, meaning-making, beyond the experiment, narrative construction, man making, and the future of the study of mind – to illustrate these points. Bruner delves into the role of narrative in shaping thought, arguing that storytelling is a fundamental way humans organize their experiences and create meaning. He contrasts analytic and synthetic modes of cognition, with the former being characteristic of scientific thinking and the latter of artistic and intuitive thought. A key concept is ‘scaffolding’, the process by which skilled individuals support the learning of novices.
Historical / Cultural Context
Culture and Cognition emerged during a period of significant intellectual ferment. The 1960s witnessed a challenge to behaviorism’s dominance in psychology, with the rise of cognitive science and a growing interest in the role of mental processes. Simultaneously, anthropology, particularly the work of Claude Lévi-Strauss and others, highlighted the diversity of human cultures and the importance of understanding thought within its cultural context. Bruner’s work sought to bridge these two fields, integrating insights from both psychology and anthropology to offer a more nuanced understanding of the human mind. It’s a response to the limitations of purely universalist models of cognition and a call for acknowledging the culturally specific ways of knowing.
Who This Book Is For
This book is primarily geared toward students and scholars in psychology, anthropology, education, and cognitive science. However, its insights are relevant to anyone interested in the relationship between culture and thought. Its accessible style—while deeply scholarly— makes it suitable for advanced undergraduate students and engaged general readers. The work’s emphasis on the power of narrative and symbolic systems also appeals to those interested in the humanities and the social sciences.
Further Reading
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Structural Anthropology (1963): Offers a foundational exploration of structuralism and its application to understanding cultural systems.
- Margaret Mead, Coming of Age in Samoa (1928): A classic ethnography that demonstrates the impact of cultural context on adolescent development.
- Ruth Benedict, Patterns of Culture (1934): Investigates the diverse cultural configurations and their influence on individual behavior.
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