Theories Of Development

Tasharnie Bullock

HCI College

PSY 2012: General Psychology

Dr. Rebecca

July 31, 2022

Theories Of Development

Lev Vygotsky theorized that interactions with others has a great influence on cognitive development (Hockenbury et al.,2011). He argued that children have the capacity to accomplish larger amounts of cognitive improvement through social interactions (communication that takes place between people). In the case study with Vlad, it was mentioned that he was spending a lot of time with his uncle who was teaching him about car engines and computers. As they spent together, they would have been communicating with each other and also interacting with the physical object (cars and computers. During social interaction, we can just imagine how curious Vlad was to learn about cars and computers, as he interacted with the objects, he would eventually discover the various parts on associated with each object. At some point, he may have started to ask questions and then his uncle would have to answer those questions and explain things to him which would then allow Vlad to develop a greater understanding of cars and computers.

The factors that may have contributed to Vlad’s improvement in school are experience, learning opportunities and environment.

According to Piaget, the environment plays a key role in a child’s cognitive ability, to ensure adequate cognitive development in children we need to provide a motivating and encouraging environment. When this occurs the child’s intelligence will increase, this help to contribute to Vlads changes and he became a good student in school. Vlad and his uncle spent time interacting and his uncle thought him about cars and computers I can imagine his uncle encouraging him as they explored together and spent quality time communicating, as Vlad learned and understand about cars and computers the was now motivated to learn about other things in the world he lives in and this would allow him to develop an interest in the overall learning process.

The second factor that contributed to Vlad’s improvement in school was the provision of learning opportunities, this was provided by his uncle who provide the time and space to facilitate the teaching and learning environment through social interaction. Social interaction allows for the development of interpersonal skills as Vlad’s started to learn his self-confidence would start to develop he would eventually start to communicate his ideas, thoughts and feelings more especially at school in the teaching and learning environment. He also helped his smaller brother with his studies which further provided more learning opportunities as he now mastered the concept of whatever he learned and was now able to teach his brother. Vygotsky believes that interaction with peers allows for an effective way of developing skills, in this way the less knowledgeable student (Vlad’s brother) can learn from the more knowledgeable other (MKO).

The third factor that contributed to Vlad’s improvement was his new experience during learning with his uncle and then his brother. Piaget believes that the experience a child has in the real world through interaction with real life objects can help a child’s cognitive development. In Vlad’s case, his interaction with the physical objects (computer, car) he is able to touch and see at this point in time his critical thinking skills will begin to develop and his level of reasoning, problem-solving and analyzing skills would increase and eventually Vlad would understand the concept being studied or taught. At school he would have transmitted this attitude and action toward learning he would now ask crucial questions relating to the subject thought in an attempt to develop a greater understanding of the subject thought and eventually, he would have developed the knowledge and skills to make him competent in the subject area and hence his grades would increase.

Developmental Psychology can be beneficial to my future career in nursing. Throughout my life and in my career, learning will never stop as new methods, new medical technology, and new procedure will develop as time evolves and knowledge in humans increase. I can expect to be called in for training and seminars, where I will have to be trained and taught by an expert in the field, a supervisor coworker that is more knowledgeable and has more experience (Vygotsky). I will have to unlearn and relearn things that I would have previously known in order to accommodate and assimilate new knowledge while applying new skills on an ongoing basis. Social interactions will also occur as we communicate with patients and other members of the medical team in order to carry out our roles and do our job effectively.

References

Babakr, Zana H., Mohamedamin, Pakstan, and Kakamad, Karwan. (2019), Piaget’s Cognitive Developmental Theory: Critical Review. In: Education Quarterly Reviews, Vol.2, No.3, 517-524. (n.d.).

Factors that Affect the Cognitive Development of Learners. https://educationsummary.com/lesson/factors-affecting-cognitive-development/. (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2022

Mcleod, S. (2022, May 5). Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development. https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html#:~:text=Vygotsky’s%20sociocultural%20theory%20views%20human,more%20knowledgeable%20members%20of%20society. Retrieved July 27, 2022.

Vlad is 12 years old and has just changed schools because his parents moved again. He did not do well in his previous five schools. Now he is living next door to his uncle, who likes him a lot and is teaching him about car engines and computers. In his new school, he is becoming a good student. His teachers are surprised but pleased. He is even helping his younger brother with his studies.