Final answer:
Lev Vygotsky used the term 'tools of intellectual adaptation' to denote symbols and cultural artifacts used by individuals to understand, communicate, and problem solve, with language being a fundamental example. These symbols are central to his sociocultural theory of development and illustrate how culture shapes thought processes and social interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lev Vygotsky's Term for Cultural Symbols
Lev Vygotsky, a distinguished Russian psychologist, contributed significantly to our understanding of how culture plays a pivotal role in the development of thought processes and language. One key aspect of Vygotsky's sociocultural theory involves the tools of intellectual adaptation, which are the symbols and cultural artifacts that individuals use to perceive, communicate, and solve problems. These tools include language, art, writing systems, and various methods of counting and problem-solving. They are employed by a society to construct and convey knowledge and are central in the development of higher mental functions.
Language is a fundamental element among these symbols, acting as a system through which people communicate and transmit culture. Vygotsky's theory emphasizes that the thought process is deeply influenced by language, which is heavily tied to cultural background. Through language, children learn the cultural norms, social behaviors, and cognitive strategies that are prevalent in their community.
Another scholar, Erving Goffman, utilized the concept of dramaturgical analysis to highlight how social interactions follow patterns akin to theatrical scripts. Symbols, as part of cultural communication, also include gestures, signs, and artifacts, demonstrating how individual interactions within a society can reflect, uphold, and transmit collective cultural values. Through understanding and employing these symbols, people are able to interpret their social reality and engage in the complex process of social interaction.