Lev Vygotsky believed that cognitive development is primarily shaped by social and cultural factors. He rejected the idea of fixed developmental stages and instead focused on the mechanisms that drive development. Vygotsky argued that higher mental functions originate through social interactions and language use before becoming internalized. A key concept is the Zone of Proximal Development, which represents the gap between what a child can do independently and what they can do with guidance. Within the ZPD, instruction can promote cognitive growth.

15. Zone of proximal development

18. Scaffolding Cognitive development in the zone of proximal development stresses the role of a social partner of the student (a teacher or a more skilled peer).