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Jerome Bruner, one of the pioneers of cognitive psychology, is celebrating his centenary this year. In an interview with the American Psychological Association, he reflects on his discoveries, interests, and problems in contemporary psychology.
About vocation:
“I was born blind and regained my sight only at the age of three, after an operation. This gave me the idea that we get our first impressions through the senses, but as we mature we learn to adapt to different situations. This means that our feelings not only help us learn new things, but also reinforce our expectations.
“I have always been very sensitive to everything new. I remember one girl said to me, “Jerry, you’re a nosy son of a bitch.” I can hardly be called a son of a bitch, but there was something in it. I’m still intrigued by the riddles of people.”
“My father left me enough money so that I can take care of my education the way I want. When I was a student, I always tried to hide the fact that for my age I was quite rich. I felt very uncomfortable. I felt that I was lucky and I have a duty to the society in which I live, which means that I have to work it off.
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On the study of human perception:
“I have always been a supporter of constructivism. Nothing in the world exists by itself and thanks to itself. We always construct what surrounds us, and this means, among other things, the ability to adapt to those with whom we have to live. Regardless of what we do, our behavior reflects the norms of the culture in which we live.
I wanted there to be a direction in psychology that would not concentrate only on what penetrates our consciousness through sensations – here and now. And I turned to the study of how we perceive the world. We bring our experience and our understanding of this experience to the world. That’s why literature seems so important to me. It is a source of freedom and liberation, a whole range of possibilities created by our imagination.”
On the problems of psychology:
“Psychology is now a very fragmented field. There are those who see it as their task to prove that psychology can be an objective and rigorous science. And that means rejecting everything that sounds too speculative, too bold. On the other hand, there are those who delve deeper into the study of the spiritual realm, striving to make it more efficient, elegant, and open-minded.
The task of psychology today is to combine two understandings of our nature: we are products of the culture in which we live, but at the same time we are independent individuals. In a global sense, we are trying to achieve this unity, but many psychologists avoid it. This is one of the reasons why psychologists prefer not to go beyond their own area.
About hobbies:
“I am an experienced sailor. I was the first Oxford professor to cross the Atlantic in a sailboat to take up this position. The sea has attracted me since I was a child. Sailing is a challenge, in a way.”
Interview published on the American Psychological Association website, apa.org
Jerome Seymour Bruner – American psychologist and educator, one of the largest researchers of cognitive processes. In 1956, his book “Study of Thinhking” was published, which formulated the basic principles of cognitive psychology.