Who among the following has laid emphasis on examining the relationship of culturally specific practices with development?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is Vygotsky.

1. Lev Vygotsky was a Soviet psychologist who emphasized the importance of social and cultural influences on development.
2. Vygotsky's theory, known as sociocultural theory, posits that cultural tools, such as language, are essential for cognitive development. He believed that cognitive functions are shaped by interactions with others in a cultural context.
3. According to Vygotsky, culturally specific practices play a crucial role in shaping how children learn, think, and solve problems. He argued that the social environment and cultural tools shape cognitive development.

Information Booster

1. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory:
1.1 Vygotsky emphasized the role of language, social interaction, and cultural tools in development. He believed that children learn through collaborative activities with more knowledgeable individuals (e.g., parents, teachers, peers).
1.2 One of his key concepts is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which is the gap between what a child can do independently and what they can do with assistance. This concept highlights the importance of scaffolding—supporting a child’s learning just beyond their current capabilities.
1.3 Vygotsky viewed cognitive development as being deeply embedded in cultural contexts, with each society transmitting knowledge through its specific cultural practices and tools (e.g., language, customs).

2. Cultural Context in Development:
2.1 Vygotsky’s work shows how development is influenced by cultural practices, arguing that children learn in ways that are unique to their cultural environments.
2.2 For example, in cultures that place a high value on oral traditions, children’s cognitive development will differ from those in cultures that emphasize written communication. Vygotsky believed that understanding development requires understanding the cultural context in which it occurs.

3. Implications for Education:
3.1 Vygotsky's ideas have had a significant impact on educational practices, encouraging a more interactive and collaborative approach to teaching, where scaffolding and social interaction are key components of the learning process.
3.2 His work has led to the development of strategies that focus on guided participation and the importance of social context in learning.

Additional Information

Piaget (Option 1):
1.1 Jean Piaget focused on universal stages of cognitive development, where he believed that children pass through fixed stages of cognitive development (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational) that are not necessarily influenced by culture.
1.2 Piaget did not emphasize the role of cultural practices in development to the same extent as Vygotsky. His theory focuses more on how children construct knowledge individually through their own interactions with the world rather than through social or cultural interaction.

Fodor (Option 2):
2.1 Jerry Fodor is known for his work on the modularity of mind and the language of thought hypothesis. While Fodor contributed significantly to understanding cognitive processes, his focus was more on cognitive architecture and mental modules rather than the influence of culture on development.
2.2 Fodor did not focus on the relationship of culturally specific practices with development.

Kohlberg (Option 4):
3.1 Lawrence Kohlberg developed a theory of moral development, emphasizing stages of moral reasoning. His theory was largely based on how individuals think about moral dilemmas and did not focus significantly on the role of cultural practices in moral or cognitive development.
3.2 Kohlberg's theory centers on the development of moral reasoning across universal stages, rather than examining how culture specifically influences development.