Jerome Seymour Bruner: From Perception to Language

Abstract

Bruner is one of the great cognitive psychologists of the 20th century. His contributions in the field of perception, representation systems, instruction theory, the role of culture in cognitive development and language acquisition are worth mentioning. Reflecting his original perspective are the concepts of "format", "scaffolding" and "spiral curriculum." Bruner understands education as a process that takes place through dialogue and negotiation between the child and the adult. Education proceeds in a direction that goes from outside to inside: culture provides prostheses to the child and through them the child multiplies his capacities. Also noteworthy are Bruner's research on shared attention, self-centeredness, and referral.