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Vygotsky - bioVygotsky - bioEarly life was extraordinary – mastered fine arts, Early life was extraordinary – mastered fine arts, especially literature, philosophy, art and law.especially literature, philosophy, art and law.

This continued throughout his life. Later he worked This continued throughout his life. Later he worked closely with Eisenstein (film), and Stanislawsky closely with Eisenstein (film), and Stanislawsky (method acting) in his work on “defectology”. (method acting) in his work on “defectology”.

Very much a “pragmatist” in philosophy. Well Very much a “pragmatist” in philosophy. Well acquainted with the works of the American acquainted with the works of the American pragmatists: Peirce and William James. He applied pragmatists: Peirce and William James. He applied his ideas to the practice of education, etc.his ideas to the practice of education, etc.

Vygotsky - bioVygotsky - bio1917: The year of the first post-revolutionary 1917: The year of the first post-revolutionary “provisional government” in Russia, which abolished “provisional government” in Russia, which abolished the death penalty and fought for civil liberties - the death penalty and fought for civil liberties - overthrown by the Bolsheviks. overthrown by the Bolsheviks.

Vygotsky takes on several critical social challenges: Vygotsky takes on several critical social challenges: Education: Much of the country is un-schooled and illiterateEducation: Much of the country is un-schooled and illiterate

Mental health: There are no institutions to deal with mental Mental health: There are no institutions to deal with mental health problems, esp. in children.health problems, esp. in children.

Language: How to unite a country that has dozens of former Language: How to unite a country that has dozens of former national languages. national languages.

Vygotsky - bioVygotsky - bioHe starts to develop theories of development and He starts to develop theories of development and language based on Marxist principles – emphasizing language based on Marxist principles – emphasizing the role of social forces and history on the individual. the role of social forces and history on the individual.

Vygotsky recruits some extraordinary students:Vygotsky recruits some extraordinary students:Luria does pioneering work in cultural and neuro-psychologyLuria does pioneering work in cultural and neuro-psychology

Leont’ev develops “Activity theory”. Leont’ev develops “Activity theory”.

Genetic domainsGenetic domainsMarx emphasized understanding of social phenomena Marx emphasized understanding of social phenomena

through their history and (social, political) context. through their history and (social, political) context. Vygotsky considered “history” on 4 planes:Vygotsky considered “history” on 4 planes:

Ontogenesis: Psychological development of the individual.Ontogenesis: Psychological development of the individual.

Socio-historical: Development of cultural practices in a Socio-historical: Development of cultural practices in a society.society.

Micro-genesis: Development of single competencies.Micro-genesis: Development of single competencies.

Phylogenesis: Evolution of the human species.Phylogenesis: Evolution of the human species.

His main contribution was the mutual influence of the first His main contribution was the mutual influence of the first two.two.

ZPDZPD

The Zone of Proximal Development: the set of tasks The Zone of Proximal Development: the set of tasks the child can do with help from a more advanced the child can do with help from a more advanced peer or adult. Children learn rapidly here. peer or adult. Children learn rapidly here.

Mediation Mediation

Vygotsky paid much attention to “mediation” – Vygotsky paid much attention to “mediation” – children’s use of tools to achieve a task. His children’s use of tools to achieve a task. His perspective is very close to a perspective is very close to a “phenomenological” one. “phenomenological” one.

He also treated language as a mediational tool. He also treated language as a mediational tool. This is very consistent with Piaget’s findings. This is very consistent with Piaget’s findings.

Internalization Internalization

Vygotsky’s viewed development as starting on the Vygotsky’s viewed development as starting on the social (or socio-historical) plane and moving to social (or socio-historical) plane and moving to the psychological plane (individual development). the psychological plane (individual development).

Language is first encountered by the child in the Language is first encountered by the child in the social plane, but is gradually “internalized” as social plane, but is gradually “internalized” as the child master’s new concepts. the child master’s new concepts.

This process is also called “appropriation” (Rogoff). This process is also called “appropriation” (Rogoff).

Self-regulation and private Self-regulation and private speech speech Private speech is a fascinating phenomenon in Private speech is a fascinating phenomenon in

young children in which they spontaneously young children in which they spontaneously voice commands, descriptions and reminders to voice commands, descriptions and reminders to themselves. themselves.

In Vygotsky’s hands, private speech is a powerful In Vygotsky’s hands, private speech is a powerful clue to the linguistic character of human thought. clue to the linguistic character of human thought.

Discussion topic 1Discussion topic 1

Can you think of examples where you have Can you think of examples where you have used used “private speech” for a new task? “private speech” for a new task?

More generally, how much of your own More generally, how much of your own thought is explicitly linguistic? thought is explicitly linguistic?

Is it difficult to answer this question? If so, Is it difficult to answer this question? If so, why?why?

Discussion topic 2Discussion topic 2

Discuss the proposition “language is a tool”? Discuss the proposition “language is a tool”? What are some differences and similarities What are some differences and similarities between language and other types of tool?between language and other types of tool?

Discussion topicsDiscussion topics

1.1. Can you think of examples where you Can you think of examples where you have used “private speech” for a new have used “private speech” for a new task? task? More generally, how much of your own More generally, how much of your own thought is explicitly linguistic?thought is explicitly linguistic?

2.2. Discuss the proposition “language is a Discuss the proposition “language is a tool”? What are some differences and tool”? What are some differences and similarities between language and other similarities between language and other types of tool?types of tool?

Reading for next timeReading for next time

James Wertsch’s introduction to Vygotsky. James Wertsch’s introduction to Vygotsky. More complete but more challenging that More complete but more challenging that this reading. this reading. Volunteer?Volunteer?