Question

A brief summary of the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky

Similarities in the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky

Differences between the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky

What can be gained by a better understanding of these theories

Answer 1

• Two of the most recognized cognitive psychologists, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, developed theories that addressed cognitive development and learning among children and adolescents.
• Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development described and explained the changes in logical thinking of children and adolescents. Piaget proposed that children proceed through four stages based on maturation and experience.
• Piaget's theory is guided by assumptions of how learners interact with their environment and how they integrate new knowledge and information into existing knowledge. Briefly, he proposed that:
• children are active learners who construct knowledge from their environments
• they learn through assimilation and accommodation, and complex cognitive development occurs through equilibration
• the interaction with physical and social environments is key for cognitive development
• development occurs in stages
• Lev Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development, referred to as his cultural-historical theory, focused on the role of culture and social interactions. Vygotsky maintained that speech is a major psychological tool in the child's development of thinking. As children age and develop, their basic speech becomes more complex.
• Vygotksy's theory is guided by six major assumptions:
• children develop through informal and formal conversations with adults
• the first few years of life are critical for development, as this is where thought and language become increasingly independent
• complex mental activities begin as basic social activities
• children can perform more difficult tasks with the help of a more advanced individual
• tasks that are challenging promote cognitive development growth
• play is important and allows children to stretch themselves cognitively
• Differences-
• Piaget insisted that learning happens after development while Vygotsky pointed out that learning takes place before development can occur.
• Piaget did not believe in the significance of inputs that can be acquired from the environment but Vygotsky was confident that kids do acknowledge the inputs from their environment.
• Piaget’s cognitive development theory has four evident phases. Vygotsky assumed that there are no set of stages at all but only 3 components.
• Vygotsky believed that development can’t be detached from social context unlike Piaget.
• Vygotsky claimed that language plays an important role in cognitive development. Piaget only viewed language as a plain milestone in development.
• Similarities-
• Children learn increasingly complex information and skills as they get older
• Emphasis on both nature and nurture - Both recognise the role of heredity and maturation of the brain and body= nature. Piaget recognises how children meet the demands of their environment
• Children's cognitive abilities develop in a sequence and particular abilities develop at certain stages
• Both Vygotsky and Piaget share a dialectical approach, in that the psychological development involves a continuous interaction among distinct, but interdependent, functions or processes such as assimilation in Piaget’s theory and internalization in Vygotsky’s theory.
• They both share a non-reductionist view of human intelligence and consciousness.
• They both share a developmental perspective which is essential for an understanding of psychological phenomena and process namely those relatively more elaborate or complex as in the case of Piaget’s mental operations and Vygotsky’s symbolic operations.
• Piagets's and Vygotsky's theories help us gain better understanding of children cognitive development and also in education.