Cognitive Development - Vygotsky's Theory

Vygotsky thought that cognitive development isn't innate, it takes place within their culture. It lies in social and cognitive influences rather than maturation.

A child picks up cultural tools

• Language, writing, number systems and ideas from science
• Culture teaches us how an what to think

Everyone is born with potential, that others help us discover

- The gap between where you currently are in your development, and where you can move on to (with   help) is called the zone of proximal development (ZPD)

• This is aided by support from those around you, which is known as scaffolding

In this theory, stages aren't universal. They happen at an individual pace and are aided by the culture around them.