Re: question on class

p-prior who-is-at uiuc.edu
Thu, 21 Oct 1999 22:08:17 -0500 (CDT)

I think Leont'ev's book, Problems of the development of the mind (1981),
pays explicit attention to class in the theory though not in the research
as I recall. Luria (1976), Cognitive development: Its cultural and social
foundations, one of the texts that report the cross-cultural studies
addresses some issues of class as well as culture. Scribner's workplace
studies (e.g., in Mind and social practice: Selected writings of Sylvia
Scribner, 1997) deals with cognitive practices in relation to labour
positions (e.g., delivery people vs. packers vs. office workers). I'm sure
there are more studies, but these come to mind.

>Isn't this an example of internalization? Are there any studies of class in
>the CHAT tradition or studies in which class figures as an important
>element/category? At this point it's not crucial for me to know how "class"
>is defined as long as it includes a reference to the individual's relation
>to the productive process in sectoral terms, just whether some notion of
>class is employed.
>
>
>Paul H. Dillon