Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934), as one of the pioneers of psychology and cognitive science, fundamentally changed our understanding of human development and cognition with his sociocultural theory of the mind. Working in the early Soviet Union, Vygotsky emphasized that higher mental functions such as reasoning, memory, and language emerge not from isolated biological processes, but through social interaction and cultural mediation. Furthermore, he proposed the idea that language and thought develop through internalization. According to this, external social dialogues gradually transform into internal speech, and this process forms the basis for reflective thought and self-regulation. This approach, which views cognition as a dynamic process mediated socially and linguistically, has influenced not only developmental psychology but also education, linguistics, and modern cognitive science. Despite his short life, Vygotsky’s interdisciplinary vision has inspired many subsequent approaches, such as embodied and distributed cognition. His work, which continues to inspire research on how culture, language, and social interaction shape the human mind, has ensured his recognition as one of the founding figures of 20th-century psychology. On Monday, November 17, we are organizing two talks, one in Turkish and one in English, to commemorate Lev Vygotsky and introduce his work.
The first of these talks, which will be in Turkish, will be given by Cansu Pala (PhD) from Ege University's Department of Psychology. You can find the abstract for the talk titled “Mind, Society, and Revolution: Understanding Vygotsky”, as well as Dr. Pala's biography and the relevant time/date information, below. To attend the event, you must fill out the form on this page. Participation is free.
Summary:
Lev Vygotsky, despite his short life, is one of the important figures who shaped the history of thought. His revolutionary idea regarding the social nature of the mind necessitated treating learning not as an individual process, but within a cultural, historical, and ideological context. In this talk, Vygotsky’s life story, the influence of the regime he lived under on his thought, and his fundamental ideas regarding the construction of the mind within society will be discussed. In this way, an attempt will be made to understand why this approach to the social origins of the mind still holds transformative power for contemporary cognitive sciences and conceptions of education.
About Cansu Pala (PhD):
Dr. Pala graduated from Yeditepe University's Department of Psychology with a bachelor's degree in 2008 and completed her master's (2010) and PhD (2015) in developmental psychology at Lancaster University. She has been working as a faculty member at Ege University since 2016. She received the title of “associate professor” in 2024.
Dr. Pala’s research focuses on cognitive and emotional development in early childhood. Her research interests include executive functions, theory of mind, emotion regulation, and the relationships between these concepts. In the Ege Cognitive Development Laboratory, which she founded, she conducts studies on topics such as the acquisition and development of the concept of ownership, emotional socialization processes, and the promotion of positive social skills. Dr. Pala aims to contribute to both experimental and applied research on children's cognitive and emotional development and to develop methods that support early childhood development.
Platform: Zoom
Date: November 17, Monday
Time: 18:00
Free admission.
Please fill out this form to join the event. The Zoom link will be shared with registered participants by email shortly before the session..
To attend Jed Allen's talk, which will be in English, you can register via this link.
