Which theorist argued that cognitive development is shaped by social interactions and culture?

• A. Erikson
• B. Vygotsky
• C. Piaget
• D. Skinner

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that cognitive development is shaped by social interactions and culture. Lev Vygotsky developed the sociocultural theory of cognitive development, arguing that learning happens first through social dialogue with more knowledgeable others and is then internalized as individual thinking. Language and other cultural tools mediate thought, and children move from external guidance to independent problem-solving. A key concept is the zone of proximal development, where learners can perform tasks with guidance but not yet alone; scaffolding supports this progression as skills become internalized.

This perspective contrasts with others: Erik Erikson focuses on psychosocial development across the lifespan rather than how culture shapes cognition; Piaget emphasizes children’s own active discovery and stages of cognitive development with less emphasis on social mediation; Skinner centers on behavior and reinforcement, treating learning as a result of external stimuli rather than social-cultural mediation of thought.