The Neo-Vygotskian Approach to Early Communication

Abstract

This article contains a theoretical analysis of the neo-vygotskian approach to early communication, represented by the cultural-historical activity-concept of child communication (Lisina, Leontiev, Vygotsky). The article focuses on the ontogenesis of communication and early socio-emotional development from a cultural-historical point of view, highlighting the following aspects: 1) the basic principles and main concepts of early communication and early development for a Russian neo-vygotskian (RNV), cultural-historical, psychological perspective; 2) relations between and approaches to activity and communication within cultural-historical psychology, based on A. N. Leontiev’s theory of activity, the vygotskian cultural-historical concept of early cultural genesis, and Maia Lisina’s theory on the ontogeny of communication.