Lev Vygotsky's Theory Of Social Development

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For the purpose of this assignment the author will critically analyse the contribution that early childhood experiences makes to later adult social development. The author will demonstrate this by arguing how two different theorists and theories contributes to adult social development. The two theorists the author has chosen are Bandura - theory of social learning (1963) and Lev Vygotsky - theory of Social Development (1978). 'Miller (2002) defines a Theory as a set of interconnected statements including definitions, axioms, postulates, hypothetical constructs, laws and testable hypotheses, which describe unobservable structures, mechanisms or processes and relate them to observable events ' (Upton, Developmental Psychology, …show more content…

He proposed that each person has a zone of proximal development (ZPD). This has been defined as "the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in collaboration with more capable peers" (McLeod, ZPD, published 2010, updated 2012). Lev Vygotsky based his theory on the influences of education and culture in cognitive development which he clearly demonstrated. If a child is making a jigsaw that is just outside their capability, they will need some assistance and encouragement at first to aid them in the right direction. This is done through the use of language and dialogue from the adult. The language must be concise and uncomplicated in order for the child to understand it. For example; adult may say 'maybe we could turn all the pieces the right side up and look out for the ones that are all the same colour, how about we try this piece here to see if it fits in with the other ' the child may respond 'oh yes that fits in let 's do more like that '. By the encouragement from the adult at this stage the child will master the task and will gain the motivation to proceed onto the next stage, and maybe even a harder jigsaw.
Lev Vygotsky 's social development theory was centred on learning before you develop. This shows that childhood experiences contributes to later adult social behaviours. Children learn through social interaction with others. If students learn to play and interact with others at an early age they will learn to make things their own. 'Shared activities help children to internalise their society 's ways of thinking and behaving and to make those ways their own ' (sally,