TABLE 11-3

Comparison of Piagets and Vygotskys Theories of Cognitive Development Piagets Cognitive Theory
1. Cognitive development is mostly the same universally. 2. Cognitive development results from the childs independent exploration of the world. 3. Each child constructs knowledge on his or her own. 4. Individual egocentric processes and language become more social. 5. Peers are important because children must learn to take peers perspectives. 6. Development precedes learning; children cannot master certain things until they have the requisite cognitive structures.

Vygotskys Sociocultural Theory

1. Cognitive development differs from culture to culture and in different historical eras. 2. Cognitive development results from guided participation or social interactions. 3. Children and adults or more knowledgeable persons or peers co-construct knowledge. 4. Social processes or interactions with others become individual psychological processes. 5. Adults are important because they know the cultures way and tools of thinking. 6. Learning precedes development; tools learned with adult help are internalized.