Who proposed that children's thinking is shaped by their sociocultural context?

The idea that children's thinking is shaped by their sociocultural context can be attributed to Vygotsky, who emphasized the importance of social interactions and cultural influences in cognitive development. He introduced concepts like the Zone of Proximal Development, which illustrates how children learn and develop through guided interaction with more knowledgeable others, such as parents, teachers, and peers.

Vygotsky argued that cognitive development is not just an individual process but is deeply embedded in the social and cultural frameworks that surround a child. This perspective highlights the role of language, cultural norms, and collaborative learning, suggesting that these factors significantly impact how children think and understand the world around them.

In contrast, Piaget focused on stages of individual cognitive development and the processes of assimilation and accommodation without emphasizing the sociocultural aspects. Skinner is known for behaviorism and the influence of reinforcement rather than cognitive processes shaped by culture. Erikson’s theories, while addressing social influences, center primarily on psychosocial development rather than cognitive abilities directly shaped by sociocultural context.