Impact Of Vygotsky's Ideas On Present Day American Society
Introduction:
Vygotsky’s ideas stress that cognitive learning and development is impacted by cultural practices and social interactions. Human beings are embedded within a social context and matrix where behavior is well mapped within this. Cognitive development is marked by the society interaction with the individual. The present day American society social context that can be noted are the spirit of celebrating special American holidays such as Halloween or thanksgiving, the high school prom celebrations, the kind of job a person does, political democracy and openness, and hope for a better life and the plastic money society.
Theme
The American society values celebrating holidays, and these periods are often meaningful and important the people. Celebrating thanksgiving is often characterized with warmness, family, friends and neighbors coming together, and symbolized by a turkey meal on the table. Christmas on the other hand maybe characterized by a jolly festive and carefree mood with every place lighting and glistering, and is often symbolized by the Christmas tree, family bonds and Santa Claus, the gift bearer. These are just among examples of what defines the American society and what they value. This is further explained by …show more content…
emphasizing certain tasks and how the society and culture shape the nature of certain cognitive advances (Egan, 1998; Yasnitsky, 2010)
Promenade or prom on the other hand, is a yearly occasion of glamour for high school students. This event is a major event among high school students and they value it, with a prom king and queen revealed in such occasions through school wide votes. It in some ways débuts the students, most of them seniors in their final year, into society and adult life.
The kind of work a person does and the type of skills they possess is a major factor in the American society and culture. It is what defines what social class a person belongs to, where acquisition of higher wealth through skills or being born into wealth automatically puts a person to a high class position. Possessing unique skills that makes a person popular, or make masses love a person alleviates them to a new social class and enables them to get greater and more opportunities. The American society loves heroes. It is what a person possesses or can do that matters in the value that is placed on the person.
The American people’s expectations of their government is democracy, openness and competency and therefore any implications of corrupt practices on an official practically “evilises” that person and his affiliations and would most likely step down due to the negative image and publicity. Good reputation and actions in serving the American people is what the people value in their government.
Most American people are still inflicted with the age old American dream factor and a hope for better a life. This is even more enhanced with the easily available plastic money on credit which enables the masses to spend what they do not have in search of a better life.
How these selected examples shape an individual’s cognitive focus or development, and how they vary in different regions
These factors shape the essence that defines the cognitive development in the American population. Christmas celebrations or thanksgiving impacts the way that a child grows, the values that they hold, spirit of friendship and generosity and the social relationships that they form. This starts from a very young age where children believe in the magic of holidays, and the happy jolly moods that comes with them, and a child who is raised in a family that greatly cares for these holidays, where there are big family gatherings and lots of presents would most likely developed good relationships, have an easy time making friends and be generous. Similarly one who grew in an unhealthy home environment where, though others around them were in a celebratory mood, they did not celebrate, would most likely avoid such celebrations, people or be generous. In this sense the way the American society values the holiday seasons, and the manner in which they practice such cultures and social interactions, influences the cognitive development of people in the way, and how they react to such seasons.
The value placed on promenade occasions by high school students are mainly a reflection of the young children development with fairly tale stories of posh and glamorous princess and handsome prince, or the value placed on glamour and fame by society. From a young age, children in America are made to see that a world of beauty and glamour is the ultimate world, and prom for high school students is a culture that not only enables this to be true, but also like the age old debutantes into society, debuts young people into adult life and the society with most them becoming more mature and taking more responsibilities after completing high school. This event subtly impacts cognitive learning and development in the students, and most would feel like they had not closed a chapter in high school if they miss to attend the event.
Similarly, what a person does for a living and the way this is viewed and valued in society greatly impacts the cognitive development of people in the society. Value is placed in being unique, a hero or having unique skills that are different from others and these influences, the dreams, aspirations and efforts that people place in achieving goals. Young children know from a very young age that they want to be rich as they grow up, or they want to pursue a certain career that has better rewards. This influences the cognitive development of children both in their educational attainments and way the view things or socializes with people. While some people may become extremely competitive, others may thrive in networking and charming their way to success (Egan, 1998). This is highly unlike other regions in the world especially the socialist societies such as Russia, where a person’s cognitive development is more inclined to be integrated with societal benefits than individualistic benefits. This is also unlike in India where a job or wealth does not elevate a person to different social class to their rigid caste social system.
In the same manner, from childhood people grow believing that the U.S.
government is a champion for the American people with great stories from the historical figures and the way the values were developed to guide the government from the very formation of the nation. This makes most people believe in their governments and abhor any corrupt practices that may take place in these places that are supposed to be places and positions of honor. This influences the way people view or expect from their government. In this way it shapes the cognitive development of the people. This is unlike in some countries especially in Africa where people have no faith in their governments either due to dictatorships or ingrained corrupt
practices.
The American Dream has greatly shaped the cognitive development of most people, with a big percentage of Americans believing they can shape their lives for the better and live the American dream. This though coupled with the increasing credit card offers which give a person a glimpse into this dream has resulted to immense debts for most households. Study shows that children who have parents who accumulate credit card debts are more likely to also accumulate credit card debt when they grow and get their first credit cards, and those who maintain a tight light on credit card expenses similarly can be able to control their debts when they are older (Wang & Xiao, 2009). This reflects the manner in which the credit card factor and the role that parents play in how they manage their credit cards in their expenses and dreams impacts the cognitive development of people in the American society. This is unlike other countries as where credit access is limited.
Comparing these examples with the previous generations’ development, slight difference can be noted in some while in others, there are no differences. In the holiday season’s celebration there is not much difference in the way it shapes cognitive development. The prom though has evolved in the manner it shapes cognitive development as high school children have become more aggressive in attaining extra skills and accolades in order to be more competitive in the changing American job environment. Where as the other generations American dreams were about living with a good job, or mining gold and making fortunes, the current American dream is marred with technological innovations and developments and most people are seeking to make their fortunes online, while others pile up debts in doing so. The mind frame of people has changed from physical gold mine, to a virtual gold mine in the online world.
Conclusion:
The cognitive development of other earlier generations were bent to more of loyalists and believers in the government and its ability to solve various societal issues for its people, the current generation is marred with doubts especially taking into account of the various social issues such as high health costs that the people are faced with. Clearly these changing times and social contexts are impacting the cognitive development in the current American Society.
References
Egan, K. (1998).The educated mind: how cognitive tools shape our understanding. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Wang J., & Xiao, J.J. (2009). Buying Behavior, Social support and credit card indebtedness of college students. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 33: 2-10. Retrieved May 30, 2011 from EBSCOhost.
Yasnitsky, A. (2010, January). Guest Editor 's Introduction: "Archival Revolution" in Vygotskian Studies? Uncovering Vygotsky 's Archives. Journal of Russian & East European Psychology. pp. 3-13. doi:10.2753/RPO1061-0405480100
Vygotsky’s ideas stress that cognitive learning and development is impacted by cultural practices and social interactions. Human beings are embedded within a social context and matrix where behavior is well mapped within this. Cognitive development is marked by the society interaction with the individual. The present day American society social context that can be noted are the spirit of celebrating special American holidays such as Halloween or thanksgiving, the high school prom celebrations, the kind of job a person does, political democracy and openness, and hope for a better life and the plastic money society.
Theme
The American society values celebrating holidays, and these periods are often meaningful and important the people. Celebrating thanksgiving is often characterized with warmness, family, friends and neighbors coming together, and symbolized by a turkey meal on the table. Christmas on the other hand maybe characterized by a jolly festive and carefree mood with every place lighting and glistering, and is often symbolized by the Christmas tree, family bonds and Santa Claus, the gift bearer. These are just among examples of what defines the American society and what they value. This is further explained by …show more content…
emphasizing certain tasks and how the society and culture shape the nature of certain cognitive advances (Egan, 1998; Yasnitsky, 2010)
Promenade or prom on the other hand, is a yearly occasion of glamour for high school students. This event is a major event among high school students and they value it, with a prom king and queen revealed in such occasions through school wide votes. It in some ways débuts the students, most of them seniors in their final year, into society and adult life.
The kind of work a person does and the type of skills they possess is a major factor in the American society and culture. It is what defines what social class a person belongs to, where acquisition of higher wealth through skills or being born into wealth automatically puts a person to a high class position. Possessing unique skills that makes a person popular, or make masses love a person alleviates them to a new social class and enables them to get greater and more opportunities. The American society loves heroes. It is what a person possesses or can do that matters in the value that is placed on the person.
The American people’s expectations of their government is democracy, openness and competency and therefore any implications of corrupt practices on an official practically “evilises” that person and his affiliations and would most likely step down due to the negative image and publicity. Good reputation and actions in serving the American people is what the people value in their government.
Most American people are still inflicted with the age old American dream factor and a hope for better a life. This is even more enhanced with the easily available plastic money on credit which enables the masses to spend what they do not have in search of a better life.
How these selected examples shape an individual’s cognitive focus or development, and how they vary in different regions
These factors shape the essence that defines the cognitive development in the American population. Christmas celebrations or thanksgiving impacts the way that a child grows, the values that they hold, spirit of friendship and generosity and the social relationships that they form. This starts from a very young age where children believe in the magic of holidays, and the happy jolly moods that comes with them, and a child who is raised in a family that greatly cares for these holidays, where there are big family gatherings and lots of presents would most likely developed good relationships, have an easy time making friends and be generous. Similarly one who grew in an unhealthy home environment where, though others around them were in a celebratory mood, they did not celebrate, would most likely avoid such celebrations, people or be generous. In this sense the way the American society values the holiday seasons, and the manner in which they practice such cultures and social interactions, influences the cognitive development of people in the way, and how they react to such seasons.
The value placed on promenade occasions by high school students are mainly a reflection of the young children development with fairly tale stories of posh and glamorous princess and handsome prince, or the value placed on glamour and fame by society. From a young age, children in America are made to see that a world of beauty and glamour is the ultimate world, and prom for high school students is a culture that not only enables this to be true, but also like the age old debutantes into society, debuts young people into adult life and the society with most them becoming more mature and taking more responsibilities after completing high school. This event subtly impacts cognitive learning and development in the students, and most would feel like they had not closed a chapter in high school if they miss to attend the event.
Similarly, what a person does for a living and the way this is viewed and valued in society greatly impacts the cognitive development of people in the society. Value is placed in being unique, a hero or having unique skills that are different from others and these influences, the dreams, aspirations and efforts that people place in achieving goals. Young children know from a very young age that they want to be rich as they grow up, or they want to pursue a certain career that has better rewards. This influences the cognitive development of children both in their educational attainments and way the view things or socializes with people. While some people may become extremely competitive, others may thrive in networking and charming their way to success (Egan, 1998). This is highly unlike other regions in the world especially the socialist societies such as Russia, where a person’s cognitive development is more inclined to be integrated with societal benefits than individualistic benefits. This is also unlike in India where a job or wealth does not elevate a person to different social class to their rigid caste social system.
In the same manner, from childhood people grow believing that the U.S.
government is a champion for the American people with great stories from the historical figures and the way the values were developed to guide the government from the very formation of the nation. This makes most people believe in their governments and abhor any corrupt practices that may take place in these places that are supposed to be places and positions of honor. This influences the way people view or expect from their government. In this way it shapes the cognitive development of the people. This is unlike in some countries especially in Africa where people have no faith in their governments either due to dictatorships or ingrained corrupt
practices.
The American Dream has greatly shaped the cognitive development of most people, with a big percentage of Americans believing they can shape their lives for the better and live the American dream. This though coupled with the increasing credit card offers which give a person a glimpse into this dream has resulted to immense debts for most households. Study shows that children who have parents who accumulate credit card debts are more likely to also accumulate credit card debt when they grow and get their first credit cards, and those who maintain a tight light on credit card expenses similarly can be able to control their debts when they are older (Wang & Xiao, 2009). This reflects the manner in which the credit card factor and the role that parents play in how they manage their credit cards in their expenses and dreams impacts the cognitive development of people in the American society. This is unlike other countries as where credit access is limited.
Comparing these examples with the previous generations’ development, slight difference can be noted in some while in others, there are no differences. In the holiday season’s celebration there is not much difference in the way it shapes cognitive development. The prom though has evolved in the manner it shapes cognitive development as high school children have become more aggressive in attaining extra skills and accolades in order to be more competitive in the changing American job environment. Where as the other generations American dreams were about living with a good job, or mining gold and making fortunes, the current American dream is marred with technological innovations and developments and most people are seeking to make their fortunes online, while others pile up debts in doing so. The mind frame of people has changed from physical gold mine, to a virtual gold mine in the online world.
Conclusion:
The cognitive development of other earlier generations were bent to more of loyalists and believers in the government and its ability to solve various societal issues for its people, the current generation is marred with doubts especially taking into account of the various social issues such as high health costs that the people are faced with. Clearly these changing times and social contexts are impacting the cognitive development in the current American Society.
References
Egan, K. (1998).The educated mind: how cognitive tools shape our understanding. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Wang J., & Xiao, J.J. (2009). Buying Behavior, Social support and credit card indebtedness of college students. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 33: 2-10. Retrieved May 30, 2011 from EBSCOhost.
Yasnitsky, A. (2010, January). Guest Editor 's Introduction: "Archival Revolution" in Vygotskian Studies? Uncovering Vygotsky 's Archives. Journal of Russian & East European Psychology. pp. 3-13. doi:10.2753/RPO1061-0405480100