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Major Development Theories

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By danieharri
Words 2860
Pages 12
INTRODUCTION

Theories of development put forward a framework for human growth, development and learning. Why do we study the developmental process? What can we learn from theories of development? If you have ever wondered about what motivates development, thoughts and behaviour, understanding these theories be a useful insight to individuals and society.

LEV VYGOTSKY

Lev Vygotsky is well known for his sociocultural theory of development. Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist, emphasized the roles of language, social interaction and culture on the child’s developing mind (Vygotsky, 1978, 1986). Vygotsky said that through social interactions, it enables the development of skills which are needed for logical reasoning. Lev Vygotsky’s theory is one in which he speaks about cognitive development.
The first step in learning about cognitive development , you have to know what the concept ‘development’ means. Development is the changes that takes place in all humans from birth to adulthood. There are physical changes such as changes in the shape and size and how the body functions for example swimming when you were in Standard 2 as to swimming faster in secondary school. There are also emotional, social and personal development which are changes to our personalities and the ways in which we manage our feelings. The term ‘cognitive’ implies thinking, reasoning and remembering.
Vygotsky (1978, 1986) believe that culture is a major determinant of cognitive development and learning leads cognitive development. He believed that individual development couldn’t be understood without reference to social and cultural context. According to Vygotsky, humans use tools

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