(Abstract)
The purpose of this study was to inquire moral educational implications of Vygotskian's verbal self-regulation. In general, self-regulation is called as a self-control and we regulate and evaluate our behavior based on that. Vygotsky bel...
(Abstract)
The purpose of this study was to inquire moral educational implications of Vygotskian's verbal self-regulation. In general, self-regulation is called as a self-control and we regulate and evaluate our behavior based on that. Vygotsky believed this can be done with the proper usage of the language. Self-regulation is the process through which the language system monitors, controls, organizes, and structuralizes the behavior. Therefore, this concept of verbal self-regulation has a variety of cognitive and perceptual features.
It should be pointed out that without proper understanding of one's socio-cultural background, we can't truly figure out how our morality develops. He posits that the function of self-regulation is internalized through verbal reciprocity with adults or more capable peers.
With regard to the origin of moral function, Vygotsky believes that socio-cultural values. are vital in the development of morality. For Vygotsky, self-regulation is to be transformed from inter-psychological function to intra-psychological function through language. As we grow up, these virtues are internalized through language(external, private, inner speech), and children can use self-regulation to control their behavior. In this regard, his theory of verbal self-regulation can provide insights to the theory of virtue education. And by explaining and underscoring the virtue education from socio-cultural perspective and through the mediation of language, the sign(specially speech) plays an important role in the process of internalization. And to examine the process of shaping self-regulation will help us to trace the path in which the morality develops.
Next, because of underlying the socio-cultural perspective, his emphasis on self-regulation can be elucidated from epistemology and since he finds the source of knowledge within the socio-cultural contexts, he will be labeled as a social constructivist. More specifically, he views this process of transforming the outer knowledge into self-regulation as an appropriation rather than simply the process of internalization. By appropriation we are constructing our own traits of virtues rather than copying those of others. This goes along with the principle of social constructivism that knowledge is gained through social participation. So it is not surprising that he stresses the importance of dialogue in learning.
Lastly, his concept of the zone of proximal development(ZPD) suggests the possibility of integrative approach in developing self-regulation. Vygotsky distinguishes the actual level of development from the potential level of development. In the ZPD, verbal reciprocity with adults or more capable peers occurs. And this is a place where learning moral judgment through adults guidance and other capable peers happens. By balancing the moral socialization in the actual level of development with moral development at potential level of development through verbal reciprocity, it might be possible to find some clues in moral education which will allow us to develop new method of teaching harmonious development of morality in our classroom.