Lesson 3 - Vygotky's Sociocultural Development

Presentation of Theoretical Construct

 

Lecture Information: Philosophical Assumptions

1. Social Interactions Causes Cognitive Development
Vygotsky believed that people aided one another and indeed depended upon one another for creating and solidifying understandings.  He believed that the way that people learn new skills is to find a person, peer or authority figure, that is more skilled or knowledgeable and have that person show them "how to_______."  Think about how you or your children learned to play video games.  There was usually one knower/teacher and the other is the learner. 
"First you have to choose which person you are going to be, then you go here and choose a really cool weapon... this is the one I think is the best....do you see how this goes?" 
"So I have to do this every time? Right?  But how do I get through the castle?" 
"You go over to the treasure chest and get the key, but first you have to kill the troll or he'll kill you."

Vygotsky would call this type of interaction "co-constructed knowledge."  That is to say that new knowledge is created first between people like when the children above are going through instruction and comprehension checks, and then later that new skill is internalized to the point where the children do not have to be together in order for either of them to play the video game.  They both simply go play.

2. Culture Influences Cognitive Development
Vygotsky believed that culture plays a very large part of cognitive development.  He believed that it can't be separated from the individual.  From his perspective, we all experience life from the view point of a specific culture.  It is extremely difficult to notice the cultural influences operating on us each day. 

Vygotsky believed that there are values that a culture teaches its members.  Do you want your child to be a certain religion?  Do you want your boy to be an athlete?  Scholar?  Tough?  When you make those decisions, Vygotsky would say that you are operating according to what your culture values.  He also believes that certain cultures have tools available to them that others do not have.  There has been a long professional discussion concerning the digital divide in this country.  Not everybody is participating equally in the internet boom due to a lack of capability.  Some do not value, or have the socio-economic status, to own a computer and subscribe to an Internet Service Provider.  Vygotsky's last point is one of resources.  Different cultures place different emphasis on resources available to it's people.

3. Language Shapes Cognitive Development
From Vygotky's perspective, cognitive development is dependent on social interaction.  So in order for that interaction to happen, a common language needs to be present.  However, given a multi-language culture like our own, different languages emphasize different aspects of life depending on what that culture values most.  For example, in Botswana, the language, setswana, employs only 3 different tenses but 18 different noun classes.  Things, concrete possessions are of paramount importance in Botswana.  This is compared to Spanish which has 16 different tenses and only two noun classes, male & female.  Different languages are going to influence the way a person speaking that language develops. 

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