Cognitive Development and Culture

Abstract

Abstract Cognitive development occurs in cultural context. This chapter describes the complex and multifaceted connection between culture and cognitive development and how it unfolds over ontogenesis. Sociocultural theory, which is unique in its focus on cognitive development in relation to culture, provides the conceptual foundation of the chapter. Following discussion of the historical foundations of contemporary research on culture and cognitive development, we describe how culture has been studied in psychological research, the importance of a developmental approach for understanding culture–cognition connections, and some considerations in studying the sociocultural basis of cognitive development. The capacities that human beings have that underlie participation in culture are discussed, including current understanding of relevant neural functioning and brain maturation and the social‐cognitive capabilities through which children learn from others. To illustrate the defining role of culture in human cognition, we describe empirical research in four areas of development: memory, executive functions, spatial cognition, and problem solving. General conclusions on theory and research about culture and cognitive development are offered along with suggestions for future research.