Lev Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist known for his theory of cognitive development. He proposed that higher thinking emerges through social interaction and practical problem solving. Vygotsky studied law at Moscow State University but also attended lectures at Shaniavskii People's University. He went on to research at the Psychological Institute in Moscow. Vygotsky believed that language plays a key role in cognitive development, allowing children to regulate their own behavior. His sociocultural theory emphasized that social learning precedes development.