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Cultural-Historical Psychology
2020. Vol. 16, no. 1, 122–131
https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2020160112
ISSN: 1816-5435 / 2224-8935 (online)

The Concepts of “Tool”, “Psychological Tool”, “Sign” and Their Relationship

 
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Abstract

The article focuses on a number of key concepts for cultural-historical psychology — ‘tool’, ‘psychological tool’, ‘sign’ — and their relationship, both in the past and modern researches. It analyses different approaches to the interpretation of the concept of ‘tool’ and proposes an alternative version of its understanding. Notably, L.S. Vygotsky moved away from the concept of ‘psychological too’ to the concept of ‘sign’, and this transition is discussed in terms of Vygotsky’s understanding of the latter. The paper presents a comparative analysis of tools and signs in their plain, historically original forms. It is suggested that the main difference between tools and signs is that the function of tools is to replace the individual as a participant of collective activity in its various specific operations, while the function of signs is to replace the individual in just one aspect — in the regulation of social interaction in joint activities. Such understanding is consistent with the idea of the social nature of signs as well as with the idea of the possibility of forming self-regulation on this basis.

General Information

Keywords: tool, psychological tool, sign, mediation, cultural-historical psychology

Journal rubric: Discussions and Discourses

OpenAlex citations: 5

OpenAlex trends: Psychology of Development and Education, Educational Methods and Teacher Development, Education and Professional Development

Information about the work in OpenAlex

Number of citations: 5

Topics

Psychology of Development and Education

This cluster of papers explores various aspects of psychology in education, focusing on topics such as the Zone of Proximal Development, inclusive education, cultural-historical theory, educational environment, psychological well-being, teacher training, learning motivation, adolescent development, social cognition, and digital learning. The papers delve into the intersection of psychology and education to understand the developmental processes and challenges in educational settings.

Number of works: 77902  |  Total number of citations: 232078

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Educational Methods and Teacher Development

This cluster of papers covers a wide range of topics related to innovative approaches in education, technology integration, and sustainable development. It includes research on online learning, teacher training, curriculum design, cognitive development, digital literacy, and the impact of technology on education. The cluster also explores the role of education in adapting to global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the importance of sustainable consumption of energy resources.

Number of works: 53051  |  Total number of citations: 78907

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Education and Professional Development

This cluster of papers explores trends in higher education, focusing on digitalization, pedagogical innovation, professional development, educational technology, sustainability, entrepreneurship, student-centered learning, e-learning, and educational management.

Number of works: 15495  |  Total number of citations: 24995

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Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2020160112

Published

For citation: Pavlenko, V.N. (2020). The Concepts of “Tool”, “Psychological Tool”, “Sign” and Their Relationship. Cultural-Historical Psychology, 16(1), 122–131. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2020160112

© Pavlenko V.N., 2020

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

References

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Information About the Authors

Valentina N. Pavlenko, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Associate Professor, Chair of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4947-3995, e-mail: vnp49@ukr.net

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