Final answer:
The advantage of Ashley's self-control tactic, whispered private speech, aligns with Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory which highlights the critical role of language in cognitive development and self-regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Six-year-old Ashley effectively restrained herself from touching a burning candle by inaudibly whispering the word "hot". The advantage of her verbal self-control tactic was most clearly highlighted by d) Lev Vygotsky. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes the role social interaction and language play in the development of cognitive abilities, suggesting that internalization of language enables self-regulation and higher cognitive functions. In this scenario, the young girl's use of private speech, a concept Vygotsky linked to self-regulation, aids her in controlling her behavior and avoiding the danger
Among the options provided, Jean Piaget (a) is known for his theory of cognitive development but does not directly address self-regulation through language. Erik Erikson (b) focused on psychosocial development and identity, whereas Lawrence Kohlberg (c) studied moral development. None of these theorists emphasized the role of language in self-regulation as Vygotsky did