Jerome Bruner at the Helm: Charting a New Course in Cultural Psychology Through Narrative

Abstract

Widely recognized for his distinguished scholarly contributions in cultural psychology throughout a career spanning more than a half-century, Jerome “Jerry” Bruner has profoundly influenced generations of scholars though his pioneering research on perception and cognitive processes. Although perhaps less widely known for another set of skills—as a sailor, Bruner remains at the proverbial helm as he charts a new course in his current position as Research Professor of Psychology and Senior Research Fellow in Law at New York University. Having authored several best-selling books throughout his extensive publishing career, Bruner continues to examine the importance of storytelling as a process of construction in education and the law in his most recent works. His conceptualization of self-narrative as the construction of a longitudinal version of self through storytelling can be aptly applied to contemporary issues in educational policy. In this chapter, the authors discuss the influence of self-narrative as defined by Bruner in their own research, specifically to better understand the use of storytelling by practitioners to construct their own identities as participants in teacher evaluation systems. The authors’ use of narrative as a framework for understanding how teachers use storytelling in context exemplifies Bruner’s profound influence on emergent pragmatic issues of policy to practice. As a visionary in the academy, Bruner’s own story can serve as a guide in uncharted waters for the next generation of researchers and scholars.

I think the most important general influence has been to get away from the idea that behavior is somehow to be chopped out of its context. It always has to be looked at contextually. What forms context? It’s culture. That is why I say to be an adequate human being, to some extent, you have to be a little bit of an anthropologist.

—Jerome Bruner, 2011, Inside the Academy Interview

The personal and professional journey of Dr. Jerome “Jerry” Bruner, an exemplary scholar in the field of educational psychology, has been digitally archived through Inside the Academy, a free online repository sponsored by Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. Inside the Academy features enlightening and often entertaining interviews with America’s most distinguished and influential educational researchers, most of whom are members of the National Academy of Education. Through each honoree’s personal webpage, viewers can explore customized photo gallery collections, read candid reflections from family and friends, and access supplementary materials for further reading. Intended to serve as a resource to students, teachers, and the general public, Inside the Academy offers viewers a unique opportunity to meet Dr. Bruner and share in his passion for education. Please join us to get a glimpse into the life behind one of the finest psychologists and scholars in the academy: Dr. Jerome Bruner. To view a brief, two-minute overview of the Inside the Academy interview with Jerome Bruner, please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtQJeWJr5UE. To view the complete Inside the Academy interview; his photo gallery; and reflections from family and friends, please see: http://insidetheacademy.asu.edu/jerome-jerry-bruner (Amrein-Beardsley 2011).