vygotsky on human nature and human development james v. wertsch department of anthropology...

Vygotsky on Human Vygotsky on Human Nature and Human Nature and Human

DevelopmentDevelopmentJames V. WertschJames V. Wertsch

Department of AnthropologyDepartment of AnthropologyWashington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO, USASt. Louis, MO, USA

““Sociocultural Approach” to Sociocultural Approach” to MindMind

Sociocultural ApproachSociocultural Approach– Human mental functioning is shaped Human mental functioning is shaped

by:by: Cultural contextCultural context Historical contextHistorical context Institutional contextInstitutional context

– ““Sociocultural”: cultural is not reduced Sociocultural”: cultural is not reduced to historical context and differenceto historical context and difference

Mental functioning of investigators and Mental functioning of investigators and practitioners also socioculturally situatedpractitioners also socioculturally situated

Sociocultural Approach to Sociocultural Approach to MindMind

Sociocultural situatedness of one American Sociocultural situatedness of one American mind in Moscow mind in Moscow – Mid 1970s in the Cold WarMid 1970s in the Cold War– Interested in Soviet psychology and linguisticsInterested in Soviet psychology and linguistics– He He thoughtthought he was open to new approaches he was open to new approaches– Background in Piaget, Chomsky, Vygotsky, Background in Piaget, Chomsky, Vygotsky,

George Herbert MeadGeorge Herbert Mead– Product of American individualismProduct of American individualism– Wrong “mental habits” for understandingWrong “mental habits” for understanding

Vygotsky and MeadVygotsky and Mead

Similar claims about social origins of Similar claims about social origins of human mindhuman mind

Even similar philosophical roots: e.g., Even similar philosophical roots: e.g., HegelHegel

ButBut completely different reception and completely different reception and impact in Russia and U.S.impact in Russia and U.S.– Vygotsky made sense in Russia and Vygotsky made sense in Russia and

had impacthad impact– Mead left little influence in U.S.Mead left little influence in U.S.


VygotskyVygotsky

– 1896-19341896-1934– 1934: 1934: Myshlenie Myshlenie

i Rech’i Rech’– A founder of A founder of

socio-historical socio-historical approach to approach to mindmind

MeadMead– 1863-19311863-1931– 1932: 1932: Mind, Self, Mind, Self,

and Societyand Society– A founder of A founder of

Pragmatism Pragmatism along with along with William James William James and John Deweyand John Dewey

Mead on Social Origins Mead on Social Origins of Consciousnessof Consciousness

““We are rather forced to conclude We are rather forced to conclude that consciousness is an emergent that consciousness is an emergent from [socially responsive behavior]; from [socially responsive behavior]; that so far from being a precondition that so far from being a precondition of the social act, the social act is the of the social act, the social act is the precondition of it.” precondition of it.”

Vygotsky Vygotsky on Social Origins of on Social Origins of

ConsciousnessConsciousness ““The social dimension of The social dimension of

consciousness is primary in time and consciousness is primary in time and in fact. The individual dimension of in fact. The individual dimension of consciousness is derivative and consciousness is derivative and secondary.”secondary.”

Social Origins ArgumentSocial Origins Argument

Consistent with critique of “atomism” Consistent with critique of “atomism” in philosophy and social theoryin philosophy and social theory

Contradicts:Contradicts:– ““Methodological individualism” Methodological individualism”

(i.e., explanation of social (i.e., explanation of social phenomena must start with phenomena must start with individual)individual)

– American cultural individualismAmerican cultural individualism

Sociocultural ApproachSociocultural Approachof Vygotskyof Vygotsky

Not a theory in strict senseNot a theory in strict sense Shares much with ideas of other Shares much with ideas of other

thinkers of his timethinkers of his time Includes unique contributionsIncludes unique contributions Three basic themesThree basic themes

Theme 1:Theme 1:Genetic (developmental) Genetic (developmental)

methodmethod Parallels with:Parallels with:

– Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud– Jean PiagetJean Piaget– Wolfgang KWolfgang Köhleröhler– Heinz WernerHeinz Werner– Kurt LewinKurt Lewin

1. Genetic (developmental) 1. Genetic (developmental) MethodMethod

Seeks explanation in origins and Seeks explanation in origins and developmental transformationdevelopmental transformation

More than contemporary developmental More than contemporary developmental psychologypsychology– ““Genetic domains” with different lawsGenetic domains” with different laws

PhylogenesisPhylogenesis Sociocultural historySociocultural history OntogenesisOntogenesis MicrogenesisMicrogenesis

2. Social Origins of Higher 2. Social Origins of Higher Mental Functions in IndividualMental Functions in Individual

Reflects genetic method Reflects genetic method ““General genetic law of cultural General genetic law of cultural

development”development”– All higher mental functions appear twice, All higher mental functions appear twice,

on two planes, first on the “intermental” on two planes, first on the “intermental” plane, between people, and then on the plane, between people, and then on the “intramental” plane, within the “intramental” plane, within the individualindividualApplies to thinking, memory, Applies to thinking, memory, attention, etc.attention, etc.


Parallels with other thinkers (e.g., Mead), Parallels with other thinkers (e.g., Mead), but more radical claim in Vygotskybut more radical claim in Vygotsky– Not just social origins, but “quasi-social Not just social origins, but “quasi-social

nature” of mental functioning on nature” of mental functioning on intramental planeintramental plane

Border between social and individual is Border between social and individual is “porous”“porous”

SameSame mental function appears on mental function appears on intermental and intramental planeintermental and intramental plane


First sense in which “mind extends First sense in which “mind extends beyond the skin”beyond the skin”

Can be “socially distributed”Can be “socially distributed”– Productive to examine how dyads, Productive to examine how dyads,

groups use discourse to think, groups use discourse to think, rememberremember

Adult-child dyad as agent in rememberingAdult-child dyad as agent in remembering Other- to self-regulationOther- to self-regulation

– Different intermental functioning => Different intermental functioning => different intramental outcomesdifferent intramental outcomes

3. Mediation of Mental 3. Mediation of Mental FunctioningFunctioning

Most important and unique Most important and unique contributions of Vygotsky in this contributions of Vygotsky in this realmrealm

Started his career in philology, Started his career in philology, literary studiesliterary studies

Especially interested in language as Especially interested in language as a cultural tool/mediational meansa cultural tool/mediational means


““Mediated action” as unit of analysisMediated action” as unit of analysis Active-agent-using-cultural-toolActive-agent-using-cultural-tool

– Cultural tool does some of our Cultural tool does some of our thinking, remembering for usthinking, remembering for us

– ““Remembering” title of a book by Remembering” title of a book by using internet as cultural toolusing internet as cultural tool

– Intelligence = Mastery of Intelligence = Mastery of socioculturally valued toolssocioculturally valued tools


Using a cultural tool before we Using a cultural tool before we understand itunderstand it– ““Performance before competence”Performance before competence”– Illustrated by Vygotsky/Leont’ev on Illustrated by Vygotsky/Leont’ev on

“forbidden colors task”“forbidden colors task”– Inititial use/misuse of a sign form in Inititial use/misuse of a sign form in

intermental functioning => Mastery intermental functioning => Mastery on intermental plane through over on intermental plane through over estimationestimation


Based on Vygotsky’s clear Based on Vygotsky’s clear understanding of distinction between understanding of distinction between sign form and sign meaningsign form and sign meaning

In intermental functioning can use a In intermental functioning can use a sign form or vehicle without full sign form or vehicle without full understanding of meaningunderstanding of meaning

NotNot the case that we must understand a the case that we must understand a sign on the intramental plane before sign on the intramental plane before using it on intermentalusing it on intermental


Mediation as key to understanding:Mediation as key to understanding:– Developmental stages and Developmental stages and

transformationtransformation– Link between intermental and Link between intermental and

intramental functioningintramental functioning– ““Importing” of social life into Importing” of social life into

intramental functioningintramental functioning

An American in MoscowAn American in Moscow

American habits of thought:American habits of thought:– Methodological individualismMethodological individualism– Neat distinction between individual Neat distinction between individual

and social processesand social processes– Mental processes (memory, Mental processes (memory,

cognition) exist in individual mind cognition) exist in individual mind unless marked otherwiseunless marked otherwise

Hard to resist “grooves/ruts of thinking” Hard to resist “grooves/ruts of thinking” when encountering Vygotsky’s geniuswhen encountering Vygotsky’s genius

vygotsky on human nature and human development james v. wertsch department of anthropology...

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