What Kind of Theory is Activity Theory?

Abstract

The theoretical, research and practice perspective known variously as activity theory, the cultural-historical theory of activity, CHAT (cultural historical activity theory), socio-cultural psychology and cultural historical psychology has evolved bodies of literature in diverse areas, most notably developmental, educational and organizational psychology; psychotherapy; cognitive science; curriculum and teaching; literacy, writing and rhetoric; information technology and design; and geography. Theoretically, activity theory engages many of the same issues as do philosophical, postmodern and critical psychology, including philosophical and psychological dualism; the nature of reality, the self, identity and otherness; the dialogic, narrative, performative, collaborative and relational character of language; and consciousness and the formation of mind. There is no unified theory of activity theory, but a set of articulations that more often than not overlap rather than separate. In this special issue devoted to discussions of activity theory by contemporary theorists, historians and practitioners, the question ‘what kind of theory?’ runs through (sometimes indirectly) the contributions these authors make to critical debates on the philosophy and politics of current and possible future psychologies.