Lev Vygotsky

Lev Vygotsky’s Cognitive Development Theory

This Russian psychologist proposed that
the community has a central role in the
process of “making meaning” of the world
and language around us. Vygotsky
maintained that language plays a central
role in mental development which is
necessary for social interaction. Children
are in charge of constructing their
knowledge influenced from their own
culture.

Vygotsky’s Theory

Centered on ideas that social interaction and imaginative thought are large
contributors to the process of cognitive development in children

Human behavior is primarily influenced by the environment, but is interlocked
through cognition benchmarks through increments of age

Explains that Children construct knowledge, development cannot be separated from
its social context in which prior conceptions and new concepts are interwoven, and
language plays a central role in mental development

Vygotsky

●Children construct their knowledge

●Language plays a central role in mental development

●His theory centered on the idea that social interaction and playing aid in the
process of cognitive development in children

●Children Learn from social interactions with adults

●They emulate what they observe in the adult

●Little scientific evidence to support or contradict concepts

●Does Not include other aspects for development

●Large educational implications

●Group learning is incorporated

Social Development Theory (Lev Vygotsky)

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Stresses the role of social interaction in the development of cognition.
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Believed social learning precedes development (challenges Piaget).

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Believed cognitive development stems from social interactions from guided
learning.

■Environment influenced how children think and what they think.

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Places emphasis on culture affecting cognitive development.

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He believed thought and language are initially separate systems at birth and merge
around 3 years old, producing verbal thought (inner speech).

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Babies are able to develop without understanding what social interaction and its components pertain to.

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Collectivism vs. individualism

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Nature vs. nurture

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Children speak at 2 years old

Problems with Vygotsky’s Theory

Age for the most part cannot exclusively determine one's intelligence

Over generalizes the role of age in which children and teenagers are able to perform
certain cognitive tasks

As we age it varies from child to child pertaining to what cognitive processes we
unlock