Wertsch's clarification of Vygotsky's claims about the role of social interaction in the development of children's thinking made an important contribution to educational research. Revisiting that clarification, I suggest that "talk" instead of "speech" best describes Vygotsky's concern with the functional dynamics of dialogue rather than the…

In his 1979 "Human Development" article reprinted in this anniversary issue, James Wertsch presented an approach to genetic analysis of the shifting regulation of problem-solving behavior in early childhood. In my reflections on Wertsch's seminal contribution, I discuss ways that subsequent inquiry built upon ideas he elaborated in the…

Comments on the article by Parker in this issue. Reviews Parker's discussion of imitation and circular reactions, and discusses the application of Darwin's ideas about evolution to the study of the development of individuals' awareness of the world and the mind. Considers the role of blind trial and error and of selection in evolution. (BC)

Examines Gal'perin's contribution to the analysis of internalization. Notes that Gal'perin believed mental processes are neither internal faculties nor a reflection of brain processes but external object-related actions. States that the concept of internalization can avoid internal-external dualism while emphasizing the human character of mental…

Elaborates some of the ideas of Baldwin and Piaget concerning the self-teaching functions of circular reactions, or self-induced repetition of particular schemes, and imitation. Argues that these functions are means for cognitive constructions. Discusses the evolution of imitation and circular reactions in primates. (BC)

Comments on the article by Arievitch and van der Veer in this issue, focusing on two issues. First, states that replacing the term "internalization" with another term such as "mastery" or "appropriation" is not merely terminological but actually does address distinctions between internal and external processes.…

Emphasizes the social and interpersonal aspects of actions, especially as described in Soviet psychology. Argues that remembering is essential for intentional action. Intentional action is derived from the communication and cooperative relations between two people. (RH)

Analyzes the intentionality of conceptually mediated perception and explicates a conception of immediate perception and its intentionality. The model of immediate perception is applied to studies of infant perceptual capacities in the first months of life. Prefigurations of the categories of object, identity, existence, permanence, and…

Reviews and discusses Piaget's recent work on abstract reasoning. Piaget's distinction between empirical and reflective abstraction is presented; his hypotheses are considered to be metaphorical. (Author/DB)

Argues that the status of the concept of equilibration is classified by considering Piagetian theory as a research program in the sense elaborated in 1974 by Lakatos. A pilot study was made to examine the precision and testability of equilibration in Piaget's 1977 model.(Author/RH)

Describes three unique characteristics of adult thought: (1) an understanding of the relativistic nature of knowledge, (2) an acceptance of contradiction as a part of reality, and (3) an integrative approach to thinking. Analysis of the philosophical foundations of these characteristics is followed by critical examination of current studies of…

Suggests that the dialectic process of unifying opposing trends has contributed to the development of personality theories which focus on the interrelationship between cognitions and behaviors. (BD)

The distinction between competence and performance models in psycholinguistics is used to analyze current theory and research strategies in the study of cognitive development. The analysis is used to argue for the construction of performance models of cognitive skills which do not reify the elements of competence models. (Author/SS)

Develops a model of "knowing" and discusses the implications of this model for an understanding of the nature of developmental stages. (BD)

Criticizes the distinction between lower and higher psychological processes in Vygotsky's cultural-historical theory. Shows that Vygotsky separated these processes too sharply and that his conception of lower processes as "natural" and "passive" is false. Suggests that these shortcomings can be overcome within the…