OR

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17 Nov, 1896
11 Jun, 1934
Tuberculosis
Russian
Psychologist
37
Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky, known as Lev Vygotsky, was born on November 5, 1896, in Orsha, Russian Empire, into a middle-class Russian-Jewish family. An only child, Vygotsky was homeschooled until 1911 and later admitted to Moscow University in 1913, where he initially studied medical science before transferring to law school while maintaining a strong interest in social sciences.
In 1924, Vygotsky attended the All-Russian Psychoneurological Congress in Petrograd, where he was invited to join the Psychological Institute in Moscow. He began his work at the institute as a second-class staff scientist. However, a diagnosis of tuberculosis in 1926 led him to focus more intensely on research and the development of culture-historical approaches to understanding human cognition.
Vygotsky’s most influential theory is the Zone of Proximal Development, which describes the difference between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with support. He also proposed cultural-historical psychology, emphasizing that cognitive development is intertwined with cultural and historical contexts. His sociocultural theory highlighted the importance of social interactions and language in cognitive development.
Throughout his career, Vygotsky worked at various institutions in Moscow and was appointed a professor by the State Academic Council in 1927. He collaborated with Alexander Luria to develop “Instrumental Psychology” and continued to contribute to the field as a freelance scientific consultant, leading psychological laboratories.
Vygotsky emphasized the significance of play in childhood development, arguing that play is crucial for cognitive growth. He authored numerous influential works, including “Pedagogical Psychology,” “The Psychology of Art,” “Pedology of School Age,” “Thinking and Speech,” “Thought and Language,” and “Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes.”
Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky passed away on June 11, 1934, from a relapse of tuberculosis at the young age of 37 in Moscow. Despite his brief life, his ideas and contributions have had a profound impact on psychology and education. Vygotsky’s theories in cognitive and developmental psychology continue to influence contemporary psychologists and educators today.
Lev Vygotsky
Lev Vygotsky
Male
Tuberculosis
Orsha, Mogilev Governorate, Russian Empire (now Belarus)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Executive: Excellent administrators, unsurpassed at managing things or people. He had strong leadership abilities.
Lev Vygotsky had an interest in the humanities and social sciences, but at the insistence of his parents, he applied to medical school.
Only a couple of Lev Vygotsky's texts were published in English before the translation of Thinking and Speech.
Developed sociocultural theory in psychology