Piaget and Vygotsky: Similar Differences People recognize that Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky are two of the most influential thinkers in the world of developmental psychology. These two theorists are similar in several ways, but are also different in at least one key area that may not be obvious when generally studied (Lourenço, 2012, p. 282). It is important for educators to compare the philosophies of both Piaget and Vygotsky in order to become familiar with how children develop so that their students can receive the most benefit from instruction.
Piaget: An introduction to his theories Swiss scientist Jean Piaget (1896-1980) believed that children get knowledge of their environment by being active. As they move, they absorb information …show more content…
Vygotsky felt that a child’s social interaction played a large role in his or her development. His Social Development Theory suggests that by social interactions, a child makes meaning out of the world he or she lives in. He states that social learning comes before development (McLeod, 2014). Vygotsky believed that social and cultural influences were a key component of how a child develops. Different cultures influence the development of children through various methods. “Things that affect our behavior and thought in social situations are called social factors (Psychology Dictionary, 2015).” Vygotsky also believed that how children take in language played an important role in development. He believed that thought and language were separate until they came together around the age of three (McLeod, 2014). In Thought and Language, Lev Vygotsky writes, “A word devoid of thought is a dead thing, and a thought unembodied in words remains a shadow …show more content…
These adults are the ones who help the child understand and take in the child’s culture. A key idea in the philosophy of Vygotsky is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). This is the idea that a child can do things that he or she might not be able to do alone with the help of a tutor or mentor (Ossa, 2013). An important fact to be remembered about the ZPD is that sometimes children need transition before they are able to complete the task independently. Eventually, this support can be removed when the child is ready (Tools of the Mind,
Piaget: An introduction to his theories Swiss scientist Jean Piaget (1896-1980) believed that children get knowledge of their environment by being active. As they move, they absorb information …show more content…
Vygotsky felt that a child’s social interaction played a large role in his or her development. His Social Development Theory suggests that by social interactions, a child makes meaning out of the world he or she lives in. He states that social learning comes before development (McLeod, 2014). Vygotsky believed that social and cultural influences were a key component of how a child develops. Different cultures influence the development of children through various methods. “Things that affect our behavior and thought in social situations are called social factors (Psychology Dictionary, 2015).” Vygotsky also believed that how children take in language played an important role in development. He believed that thought and language were separate until they came together around the age of three (McLeod, 2014). In Thought and Language, Lev Vygotsky writes, “A word devoid of thought is a dead thing, and a thought unembodied in words remains a shadow …show more content…
These adults are the ones who help the child understand and take in the child’s culture. A key idea in the philosophy of Vygotsky is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). This is the idea that a child can do things that he or she might not be able to do alone with the help of a tutor or mentor (Ossa, 2013). An important fact to be remembered about the ZPD is that sometimes children need transition before they are able to complete the task independently. Eventually, this support can be removed when the child is ready (Tools of the Mind,