Abstract
Bruner’s conceptualization of cultural psychology can be found in his 1990s work, Acts of meaning. However,
the general consensus about his work in this area has treated it not as a conceptualization but as a series of
statements of fact. This paper reconsiders his plan for a cultural psychology based on his “Acts of meaning” (1990),
concluding that it rests on the proposition that the human mind precedes its epistemology. Consequently, his
cultural psychology begins with observations of the ability of humans to function in the context of the polysemous
meanings arising from everyday practices. Thus, his cultural psychology views folk psychology as psychological
common sense and privileges narrative as the most useful and longstanding cultural tool in our everyday practices.
Therefore, his study of folk psychology as a basis for cultural psychology focuses on the use of narratives in
everyday practices. In this paper, I redefine his conception of cultural psychology in terms of a narrative approach.
