Development as transformation of participation in cultural activities, from the cultural nature of human development, by barbara rogoff

Other (s) Development as Transformation of Participation in Cultural Activities The chapter titled “ Development as Transformation of Participation in Cultural Activities” in the book “ The Cultural Nature of Human Development”, by Barbara Rogoff primarily focuses on the relationship between individual development and the various psycho-cultural processes. Generally the article attempts to explain the contributions of cultural processes on human thinking using the cultural historical theory. According to the author, human development is a process in which people transform through there continuing involvement in cultural activities which in turn result in cultural changes in their cultural communities for many generations. This argument is primarily based on the assumption that individuals and cultural communities are mutually creating each other (Rogoff, 42).
Previously many psychologists have always thought that culture is more static and individual’s characteristics are secondarily affected by their cultures. Barbara Rogoff however argues against treating individuals as separate from the cultural processes and the view my most researchers that people exist independently of their cultural communities. Additionally the author has also used diagrams to visually illustrate the mutual relationship between development and culture.
According to the cultural historical theory, human development occurs in everyday learning opportunities which are often dependent on social cultural and historical of their communities. I concur with the author’s thesis that development is a transformation of participation in cultural activities. This is particularly because in my opinion, people learn new things using the thinking tools provided by their respective cultures. On the other hand, people also contribute to the creation of cultural processes and therefore it is true that both individuals and cultural are mutual constitutes rather than separate entities.
Works Cited
Rogoff, Barbara. The Cultural Nature of Human Development. New York: Oxford University press, 2003. Print.