Re: Internalization at ISCRAT

Don Cunningham (cunningh who-is-at indiana.edu)
Sat, 6 Dec 1997 20:43:37 -0500 (EST)

Yrjo,

I missed the announcement of the conference. Can you (or
anyone) provide details?

djc

On Sat, 6 Dec 1997, [iso-8859-1] Yrj=F6[iso-8859-1] [iso-8859-1] Engestr=
=F6m wrote:

> Jim Wertsch is organizing a session on internalization and appropriation =
at
> the Activity Theory congress in Aarhus in June. Here is my abstract for
> that session. Your comments or ideas are welcome.
>=20
> Yrjo Engestrom
>=20
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=

--
>=20
> > Abstract for ISCRAT 98
> >
> > THE DIALECTICS OF INTERNALIZATION AND EXTERNALIZATION IN HUMAN ACTIVITY
> >
> > Yrjo Engestrom
> > The Academy of Finland and University of California, San Diego
> >
> > In the Vygotskian tradition, internalization is generally regarded as a=
 key
> > process in the formation of higher psychological functions. Vygotsky al=
so
> > pointed out the importance of externalization. However, the latter proc=
ess
> > has seldom been studied in depth, and often it is altogether neglected =
in
> > developmental theorizing.
> >
> > In this paper, I will argue (a) that internalization and externalizatio=
n
> > are inseparable, complementary process, (b) that they must also be
> > analytically separated and analyzed as distincitive processes, (c) that=
 an
> > expanded view of externalization, understood as production of new cultu=
ral
> > artifacts, is a key to understanding creation as constitutive of all hu=
man
> > activity, (d) that the interplay of these two processes may be fruitful=
ly
> > studied in multi-step cycles of construction and appropriation of new m=
odes
> > of activity.
> >
> > In conclusion, I will discuss the relationship of the concepts of
> > internalization/externalization to the concepts of consumption/producti=
on
> > (Marx) and contemplation/experimentation (Davydov).
>=20
>=20
>=20

Don Cunningham School of Education Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405

Phone: 812-856-8540 Email: cunningh who-is-at indiana.edu Homepage: http://php.indiana.edu/~cunningh