Vygotsky's Social Learning Theory

**Lev Vygotsky** was a Russian psychologist who argued that learning is fundamentally a **social** activity, shaped by culture, language, and interaction with more knowledgeable others. His most famous concept is the **Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)** — the gap between what a child can do alone and what they can do with guidance. A skilled adult or peer **scaffolds** the child across this zone, then gradually removes the support as competence grows. Key Vygotskian ideas: - Language is the primary tool of thought - Culture shapes cognition - Learning leads development (not the other way around)