What children can do with the assistance of others might be in some sense even more indicative of their mental development than what they can do alone
Lev S. VygotskyRead
It may be said that the basic characteristic of human behavior in general is that humans personally influence their relations with the environment and through that environment personally change their behavior, subjugating it to their control.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human behavior is shaped by the interaction with the environment, which in turn influences how we modify our actions.
This quote by Lev S. Vygotsky emphasizes the dynamic relationship between humans and their environment. It suggests that individuals not only adapt their behavior based on their surroundings but also have the agency to influence those surroundings, creating a reciprocal relationship. This highlights the importance of context in shaping behavior and emphasizes personal responsibility in navigating one's environment.
Themes
BehaviorEnvironmentInfluenceControlChange
In practice
Example use cases
In a psychology lecture discussing behaviorism.
More from Lev S. Vygotsky
All quotes →The child begins to perceive the world not only through his [or her] eyes but also through his [or her] speech
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Language is the tool of the tools
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There is reason to believe that voluntary activity, more than highly developed intellect, distinguishes humans from the animals which stand closest to them.
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Thought is not merely expressed in words, it comes into existence through them
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The true direction of the development of thinking is not from the individual to the social, but from the social to the individual.
Lev S. VygotskyRead
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