The Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT)

Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) is a framework for understanding human actions and learning within their social and cultural contexts. It sees activities—like working, learning, or communicating—as systems influenced by tools, rules, community, and goals. These elements shape and are shaped by people's interactions, helping us analyze how individuals and groups develop skills and knowledge over time. Essentially, CHAT emphasizes that human behavior is deeply connected to cultural tools and social structures, providing a comprehensive way to study how people adapt and learn in complex social environments.