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
Psychology teaches us at every step that though two types of activity can have the same external manifestation, whether in origin or essence, their nature may differ most profoundly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Activities might look similar on the surface, but their underlying nature can be vastly different.
Vygotsky's quote emphasizes the importance of understanding the intrinsic motivations and origins behind seemingly similar behaviors. It suggests that two actions that appear the same can arise from entirely different psychological processes, underscoring the complexity of human behavior and the need for deeper analysis in psychology to grasp these differences.
Themes
PsychologyBehaviorMotivationActionDifference
In practice
Example use cases
In a psychology class discussion about behavioral analysis.
More from Lev S. Vygotsky
All quotes βThe child begins to perceive the world not only through his [or her] eyes but also through his [or her] speech
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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.
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Language is the tool of the tools
Lev S. VygotskyRead
There is reason to believe that voluntary activity, more than highly developed intellect, distinguishes humans from the animals which stand closest to them.
Lev S. VygotskyRead
Thought is not merely expressed in words, it comes into existence through them
Lev S. VygotskyRead
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