Essay Example on Exploring Cognitive-Psychosocial Development: Vygotsky & Erikson

Erikson's psychosocial development theory and Vygotsky's cognitive development social-cultural theory are two relevant theories that explain the lifespan development of human beings. In the current blog, I will use scholarly articles to help me expound on the two approaches, together with their applications. Additionally, the materials will help me get an insight understanding of the psychosocial and cognitive development in adolescents.

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The main Vygotsky's theme in his theory of cognitive development is that social interactions have a more significant role in cognition's development. Vygotsky states that "Every function in the child's cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first, between people (inter psychological) and then inside the child (intra psychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and the formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals (Eun, 2018)."

Another aspect in Vygotsky's theory is that the cognitive development potential hangs on the "zone of proximal development" (ZPD). ZPD gets defined as a development level reached once children participate in social behavior (Eun, 2018). The full ZPD development is dependent on entire social interaction. The skills that can get attained through the guidance of an adult is more than those that can be achieved alone with no help.

One of Vygotsky's theory applications is its contribution to the establishment of reciprocal teaching. Reciprocal teaching is a learning methodology for students, through the reading of pieces of writings. However, one of the limitations of this theory is that the ZPD does not clarify on the cognitive development process.

The idea of Erikson's psychosocial development stages is that an individual's psychosocial development, starting from infancy to eldering is dependent on the solvation of given psychosocial crises. Erikson projected that everyone encounters some crises in their lifespan (Svetina, 2014). He further added that the disasters are usually responsible for the individuals' psychosocial development.

Erikson presented the crises as eight psychosocial conflicts stages. Each of the eight development stages has two contradictory forces, usually referred to as contrary dispositions. The dispositions get labeled as either dystonic or syntonic. The provisions bring about a task that an individual is required to either master or resolve. Once the individual successfully resolves the crisis, he/she gains competence and acquires a particular virtual.

Erikson's theory has a few benefits, one of them being that its applicable through different cultures and time. Another advantage is that it can explain the development of human beings throughout their lifespan. However, a disadvantage of Erikson's theory is its substantial reliability on precise contexts' case studies, which makes it open to several interpretations.

One of my experiences with cognitive development in my adolescence was my joining of a charity group in my school. The charity group used to collect contributions from well-wishers and then donate them to the less privileged people in the society. At first, I was reluctant to join the group since I was shy. The group helped me by improving my confidence levels, and after some time, I was able to address groups of many people. My experience rhymed with that of Vygotsky's theory when he illustrated that social interactions have a significant role in cognition development.

My experience with cognitive development during my early adulthood was my job experience in accountancy. Since the job was a highly demanding one and needed given skills, the management of the firm established a training program for the new staff, I included. The training started theoretically with the help of a trainer who gave us notes. Afterward, the training process proceeded to observation, whereby we were required to observe how other accountants worked practically. The training helped me acquire accountancy skills, thus enabling me to perform well in my work. Vygotsky's theory explains that guidance is required from a more experienced individual, so as for a person to grow.

My experience relating to psychosocial development in my adolescence was my social skills development when I first joined high school. I was able to interact and create more friends, who helped me in my studies and recreational activities. The interactions helped me attain the social skills that I needed.

My experience relating psychosocial development in my early adulthood was my decision to pursue psychology in college, against my family's wishes. I insisted on pursuing a different career from theirs. The experience assisted me in growing into an individual who could make my own decisions and stand for them. Just like Erikson's theory, I faced a crisis which was to decide on what to study in college, and my determination helped me in my psychosocial growth.

During my growing up, I did not have exposure to computers, and so I did not know how to use them. When I joined high school, I was determined to learn how to use them as most of my friends. I decided to enroll in additional computer classes. With the help of the classes and friends, I was able to use a computer by the end of the year. My behavioral change can be explained using Vygotsky's theory, that shows cognition as a social construct (Eun, 2018). This means that one's ability to learn something depends on cultural and social conditions. My ability to use a computer can be illustrated using ZBD, as a result of the help from my friends, and my efforts to learn how to use a computer.

In high school, although I was active in games and also bright in my studies, I was shy towards the opposite sex members. This made me focus on my academics and sports life. However, on getting to college, I came around a culture that was open and inclusive. The culture helped me change my perspective towards the opposite sex, and I also got into a relationship. The relationship has helped me know more about the opposite sex and also get more friends.

Erikson's theory explains that crisis is essential for an individual's psychosocial development (Svetina, 2014). The crisis in my adolescent years in high school was shyness towards the opposite sex. However, in college, the culture helped me solve the crisis, and I was even able to get into a relationship.

References

Eun, B. (2018). Adopting a stance: Bandura and Vygotsky on professional development. Research in Education, 1-15. Retrieved from https://journals-sagepubcom.library.capella.edu/doi/10.1177/0034523718793431#articleCitationDownloadContainer

Svetina, M. (2014). Resilience in the context of Erikson's theory of human development. Current Psychology, 33(3), 393-404. Retrieved from https://search-proquestcom.library.capella.edu/docview/1556940992?OpenUrlRefId=info:xri/sid:summon&acco untid=27965