Lev vygotsky family history

November 5] — June 11, was a Soviet developmental psychologist. A brilliant researcher and theoretician who died young, Vygotsky is known as the " Mozart of psychology. His fundamental insight was that children need social interaction with adults and older children to advance their psychological development.

Lev vygotsky summary of theory

However, his work was rejected in the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin 's leadership, and was not released in the West until decades after his death. In the latter part of the twentieth century, his theories became widely respected and influential within the fields of developmental psychology, education , and child development , advancing human understanding of how best to support the growth and development of children to reach their fullest potential as mature human beings.

Soon after Lev's birth, his father was appointed department chief of the United Bank of Gomel and the family moved to Gomel, where Vygotsky spent his childhood. Vygotsky's mother had trained to be a teacher, but saw her priority in being at home to provide a stimulating and enriching environment for her eight children. As a child, Vygotsky read the Torah.

Vygotsky completed his primary education at home with his mother and a private tutor, and then entered public school for his secondary education. Possessing an exceptional reading speed and memory , he was an excellent student in all subjects at school. Vygotsky graduated from secondary school with a gold medal at the age of seventeen.

He entered the University of Moscow and initially studied medicine , then switched to law. Vygotsky continued his self-directed studies in philosophy. After graduating from the University of Moscow, Vygotsky returned to Gomel to teach literature and philosophy. In Gomel, he married Rosa Smekhova, and they had two daughters. Vygotsky set up a research laboratory at the Teacher's College of Gomel.

He discussed and compared methods of reflexological and psychological investigation.