Module 8
Principles of Biological and Sociohistorical Developemt
(1) Natural or primitive development: Biological development accounts for development of central nervous system and physical growth, including perception, simple memory, and involuntary attention.
(2) Sociohistorical: Begins with the first use of culturally laden symbols. This is basis of difference between animals and humans. This is the key element in development of the child's cognitive growth
(a) Child inherits the symboil system of the culture. If the system is basic, child develops rudimentary skills (e.g. counting, simple addition or subtraction) or complex skills (e.g. opeating with differential functions and advanced probability). Papua New Guinea counting is performed using body parts. Right thumb, around the hand, arm, shoulder, right ear, eyes, then down the left side. In this manner, 29 is the maximum number to which individuals can count, as a result of this cultural adaptation, even simple math is unknown.
(3) Sociohistorical factors influence development of the species and the child but ontogeny does not recapitulate phylogeny (G.Stnaly Hall said it did) In cultural development, humans create sign systems; in child development they master these existing systems.
(4) Cultural development displaced biological development in humans, this development of culture subordinates biological development in the individual.
(5) Since no single principle can explain human behavior, Vygotsky propposed 2 lines of development: biological and cultural.
 |
Return Home |  |