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Activity Theory

Developmental Psychology

Activity theory is an umbrella term for a line of eclectic social-sciences theories and research rooted in the Soviet psychological activity theory pioneered by Sergei Rubinstein in the 1930s and later advocated for and popularized by Alexei Leontev. Its originators sought to understand human activities as systemic and socially situated phenomena, going beyond the earlier paradigms of reflexology, classical conditioning, psychoanalysis and behaviorism. It became one of the major psychological approaches in the former USSR, used in both theoretical and applied psychology and in education, professional training, ergonomics, social psychology and work psychology. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Central Question
How is human consciousness and behavior generated through goal-directed, socially and culturally mediated activity, rather than through isolated internal mental processes? 1
Founded Year
1930 1
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Associated With

Source Wikipedia: Activity Theory

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Sources
1. Wikipedia: Activity Theory
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Introduction
    Activity theory (AT) is an umbrella term for a line of eclectic social-sciences theories and research with its roots in the Soviet psychological activity theory pioneered by Sergei Rubinstein in the 1930s.
  • Associated With: Lev Vygotsky, History section
    with subsequent development by Alexei Leontev and contributions from Lev Vygotsky
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