Er Vygotskys sosiokultuelle teori om
høyere mentale funksjoner egnet til
å rydde opp i de mange hypoteser
og teorier om kognitiv aldring?
Kolbein Lyng
Molde University College
Norway
Extending L.S. Vygotsky’s work into
aging and dementia
Historisk kontekst
• Post revolution Soviet Union
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Building a new psychology
Building a new society
Educational reforms
Psychology should build on I.P. Pavlov
• Cultual historical school in psychology
– L.S Vygotsky (1896-1934):
• semiotic mediation and development. Functional systems
– A.R. Luria (1905-1977)
• Neuropsychology and development
– A. N. Leontjev (1903-1979)
• Activity theory and development
The origin of higher mental functions
• A genesis from lower functions (Stimulusresponse connections ) to higher (mediated)
mental functions via signs
lower
Higher
Origin
biological
social
Relation
Direct
indirect
Function
Involuntary
Voluntary
Transitions via the acquisition of
language
• Language transforms impulsive reactions based on S-R connections
to voluntary actions mediated by signs ( language)
• Controls the environment (from external to internal control)
• Controls oneself (volition)
• Moves from impulsive to semantic regulation via signs
• Language sets up a functional barrier
• Transforms memory and attention
– Memory involves active thinking and conceptual structuring
– Attention can be directed towards aspects of an situation via language
• Zone of proximal development (ZPD): what can be obtained with
help of another competent person
Triangle of mediation
X
S
R
Mediated activity
• Goal directed behaviour: object related
– intentional
• Mediated by signs (language)
– Sign used as an object to obtain something
• A reminder
• A representation
Known to a Western audience
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Vygotsky 1927 In Genetic Psychology
Translation of Thinking and Speech (1963)
Mind in Society (1978)
Lurias works in neuropsychology
Leontjevs “Problems of the development of the
mind”(in German)
• Cole with Maltzman: Handbook of contemporary
Soviet psychology 1969
• James Wertsch: Vygotsky and the formation of
mind 1985
Summary of thoughts
• Mental functions/cognitive functions
transforms through acquisition of language:
mediating tools
• Cognitive functions have a social and historical
origin (and a biological fundament)
• Use of concepts changes interaction with
environment
• Concepts change their meaning through
history
Extending to aging and dementia
• Cognitive functions are mediated or have a
mediation history
• Conceptual tools are involved in problem solving
activities in cognitive tests
• Concepts and meanings may be different across
age groups and generations
• Tests should make mediational tools available
• (zone of proximal development- dynamic testing
procedure)
Own applications
• Study of verbal regulation in mental retardation
– A replication of A.R. Luria’s theory of verbal regulation (1979)
– With P.A. Kielland & L. Chr. Lahn
• Verbal control of motor resposes in visual a discrimination task.
• Cognitive assessment in old age 1993
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Older adults have less education than younger
Lack of relevant concepts will impact performance on test of intelligence
Zones of proximal development in old age
Introduce relevant concept by hints
Dynamic testing of intelligence in old age
• Semiotic mediation in Dementia 2001
– Deficit in semiotic mediational function?
– Difficulty using mediational tools?
Aging literature
• Plasticity, cognitive reserves etc in healthy old
adults (Baltes et al; Lövden, et al; Bäckmann &
Nilsson)
• Meditional tools improves performance in
healthy old adults (Kliegl & Baltes; Bäckmann
& Nilsson; Lyng)
• Dementia (AD) shows deteriorating language
function (semantic aspects)
– Memory, cognition, attention: Stroop reversals
Cognition in Alzheimer’s disease
• Breakdown in cognitive function
– Semantic memory deteriorated
– Learning potentials limited (M.M Baltes
et at, )
– Semantic aspects of language disturbed ()
– Attention regulation problems (Balota et
al)
• Semiotic mediation processes
malfunctioning
Consequences for cognitive
assessment in old age
• Failure on test may be caused by lack of
adequate tools; concepts
• Low level functioning old adults may be
misdiagnosed with dementia
• Access to mediating tools would facilitate
solving test items in healthy old adults
• Mediating tools will not improve performance
in individuals with dementia (Alzheimer’s
disease)
Wider context
• Signs are tools in human interaction in
everyday life
• Mind/cognitive processes is accessible
through the study of the use of mediational
means (signs)
• The “aging mind” is culturally and historically
determined
• The meaning of signs (concepts) changes
through history and within culture