Final answer:
Vygotsky's theory focuses on the social and cultural influences on cognitive development rather than unconscious factors, making the statement false.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lev Vygotsky, a prominent figure in educational psychology, is well-known for his Social Development Theory that contradicts the notion presented in the question. Unlike Sigmund Freud, who maintained that unconscious factors played a significant role in predicting and modifying human behavior, Vygotsky focused on how social interactions and cultural environment influence cognitive development. He introduced the concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which refers to the range of tasks that a child can perform with the assistance of a more knowledgeable individual but cannot yet perform independently. Vygotsky proposed that learning is a socially mediated process and that cognitive functions are developed through social interaction before they are internalized. Additionally, Vygotsky stressed the importance of language as a tool for cognitive development, considering that thought and language are intimately connected.
Furthermore, Vygotsky's theory posits that learning precedes development, which is in direct contrast to Jean Piaget's theory where development precedes learning. This highlights the difference in their perspectives, with Vygotsky leaning more towards the effects of cultural context and socialization on learning and development, rather than unconscious motivations. It is important to recognize that while both Freud and Vygotsky were interested in the growth and development of the individual, their approaches to understanding and predicting behavior were fundamentally different. Where Freud delved into the depths of the unconscious, Vygotsky soared into the social and cultural atmospheres influencing conscious thought and behavior.