Difference between sociocultural and social learning theory?

Sociocultural Theory (Lev Vygotzky)

-focuses not only how adults and peers influence individual learning, but also on how cultural beliefs
and attitudes impact how instruction and learning take place

-believed that parents, caregivers, peers, and the culture at large were responsible for developing higher
order functions

-children are born with basic biological constraints on their minds. Each culture, however, provides what
he referred to as 'tools of intellectual adaptation.' These tools allow children to use their basic mental
abilities in a way that is adaptive to the culture in which they live. For example, while one culture might
emphasize memory strategies such as note-taking, other cultures might utilize tools like reminders or rote
memorization

The Zone of Proximal Development

An important concept in sociocultural theory is known as the zone of proximal development.

Essentially, it includes all of the knowledge and skills that a person cannot yet understand or perform on
their own yet but is capable of learning with guidance. As children are allowed to stretch their skills and
knowledge, often by observing someone who is slightly more advanced than they are, they are able to
progressively extend this zone of proximal development

EXAMPLE

 Teachers can plan their instruction and lessons. For example, the teacher might organize the
class into groups where less skilled children are paired with students who have a higher skill
level.
 Hints, prompts, and direct instruction can be used to help kids improve their ability levels.
 Educators might also utilize the concept of scaffholding, where the teacher provides prompts to
move the child progressively forward towards a goal.

KEY DIFFERENCE

First, Vygotsky placed a greater emphasis on how social factors influence development. While Piaget's
theory stressed how a child's interactions and explorations influenced development, Vygotsky stressed
the essential role that social interactions play in cognitive development.

Another important difference between the two theories was that while Piaget's theory suggests that
development is largely universal, Vygotsky suggested that cognitive development can differ between
different cultures. The course of development in a Western culture, for example, might be different than it
is in an Eastern culture.
SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY (BANDURA)

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory posits that people learn from one another, via observation, imitation,

and modeling. The theory has often been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning

theories because it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation.

Social learning theory combines cognitive learning theory, which posits that learning is influenced by

psychological factors, and behavioral learning theory, which assumes that learning is based on responses

to environmental stimuli.

Similarities

Both Bandura and Vygotsky believed that social interaction increase the child’s learning

Difference

Bandura revolves around behaviour and his 3 models:

a. live model, involves actual individual demonstrating a behaviour

b. verbal instruction model, involves descriptions and explanations of a behaviour
c. symbolic model, involves real or fictional characters displaying behaviors in books, films or social
media

while Vygotsky theory revolves around one’s cognitive growth with the support of the more
knowledgeable other.

However, 2 theories agree that individual’s maximum potential is met through social interactions

BANDURA- BEHAVIOR IS LEARNED OBSEVATIONALLY THROUGH MODELING

VYGOTSKY- THROUGH OTHERS WE BECOME OURSELVES

Albert Bandura’s theory is based on behavioural development where Lev Vygotsky theory is based on
cognitive and language development.