I t means the potential learning area where children and reach with scaffolding of MKO. The significant part of Vygotsky theory is that he consider not only about children’s mental development, but also the external affection on mental function, which Piaget had missed out. Besides the above concepts, Vygotsky points out that language plays a key role in children’s thought forming. He believes thought is result of language
Conversely, Vygotsky disputed that the culture in which a person lives also plays a substantial part in cognitive development. Vygotsky believed that a child’s cognitive development was stimulated by the interaction of the child and its social environment (Vygotsky, 1987). Vygotsky also believed that children’s use of speech also influenced their cognitive abilities (Martin, Carlson & Buskist, 2010). Vygotsky stated that language was the basis for cognitive development, including the ability to remember, solve problems, make decisions and formulate plans (Martin, Carlson & Buskist, 2010). Studies have shown that children who use speech when met with difficult tasks are more focussed and show better improvement in cognitive performance then those who are less talkative (Behrend et al., 1992).
Cognitive Development can be explained as the emergence of thought processes beginning from infancy to childhood to adolescence to adulthood. The aim of this essay is to focus on Piaget and Vygotsky’s theories of cognitive development. Jean Piaget is a Swiss developmental psychologist who is known for his epistemological studies. On the other hand, Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky, a Soviet psychologist best known for his theory known as the Cultural-Historical theory. Both Vygotsky and Piaget were particularly interested in Cognitive Development in children.
This article aims to explore Piaget’s cognitive development theory and Vygotsky’s sociocultural cognitive theory. Piaget explicated people fundamentally improve their thinking in stage at distinct periods. In terms of Vygotsky’s sociocultural cognitive theory, it is inevitable to investigate the correlation between social interaction and individual cognitive development, the role of cultural tools in mental process, and the zone of proximal development(ZPD). In light of Piaget’s theory, there are four elements proposed to elaborate people gradually endeavor to interpret and interact with the world. To be precise, biological maturation, activity, social experience, and equilibration impinge on the development of thinking (Piaget,1970).
Lev Vygotsky, a soviet psychologist came up with the socio-cultural theory, which is another strong theory emphasizing child development and is seen as a major counter theory to Piaget 's work (Saul McLeod, 2004). Theories of these two cognitive psychologists have been compared and contrasted on different levels. This essay will look into the differences and similarities between their theories. These two psychologist 's theories differ from each other in numerous ways. To begin with, Jean Piaget 's cognitive development theory proposes that children adapt to their environment by actively constructing knowledge as they perceive and explore their surroundings.
Vygotsky’s cognitive theory emphasizes “individual development could not be understood without reference to the social and cultural context within which the individual was embedded” (Triplett, 2016). Throughout the events recalled, it is evident that Victoria’s world is shaped by experience and influence. In general it is nearly impossible to fully understand a person, nonetheless one going through adolescence, without knowing where they are coming from socially, culturally, and developmentally. For those who work with or intend to work with adolescents it is imperative that you form a relationship first, one in which you take the time to show care and interest in what’s important to them so that they can reciprocate by wanting you to accept
Introduction Developmental psychology makes an attempt to comprehend the types and sources of advancement in children’s cognitive, social, and language acquisition skills. The pioneering work done by early child development theorists has had a significant influence on the field of psychology as we know it today. The child development theories put forward by both Jean Piaget and Erik Erikson have had substantial impacts on contemporary child psychology, early childhood education, and play therapy. In this essay, I aim to highlight the contribution of these two theorists in their study of various developmental stages, the differences and similarities in their theories, and their contributions to the theory and practice of play therapy. Jean Piaget Jean Piaget was born in Switzerland in 1896.
By the time children reach middle childhood they have been exposed to a number of different social interactions with other children and adults. Children begin to grow in their cognitive development as they obtain different ways of thinking through older people with more knowledge. It is said that Vygotsky had a greater advantage over Piaget as he worked in a period of great social upheaval that put different social and ethnic groups into the same educational focus as explained by Kozulin (2003). The development of children’s higher mental process is said to depend on the interaction with people and the environment, therefore a child is exposed to higher processes which lead to an increase in cognitive development as Vygotsky’s theory is founded on real contact and interaction. As stated by Lloyd and Fernyhough (1999) children arrive at knowledge of the world through activity.
Thereafter two to three children pick up their paper and start folding it in half to accommodate more animals. They realise that there are not enough enclosures for all the groups of animals. Lev Vygotsky viewed mathematics as the development of thinking and reasoning. Vygotsky regarded social interaction, instruction and culture as important in the transmission of knowledge. Lev
Vygotsky (1962, cited in Wilson et al., 2011) explained in his theory of sociocultural theory by arguing that, children build knowledge through social and cultural experiences. Piaget, on the contrary, argued that children gain knowledge through exploration and activities. I observed the teacher demonstrating how to add water to some potted flowers using a small watering can while the child observed. The teacher demonstrated this by interacted with the child using language and hand gestures. The teacher promotes the social interaction through values, customs, belief and language to promote the child’s learning.