PERSPECTIVE article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Educational Psychology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1576714
Reassessing the two-stage theory of social learning development: a discussion
Provisionally accepted- 1Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China
- 2Center for Brain, Mind and Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
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This article reevaluates the two-stage development theory of social learning by examining the distinct roles of pedagogical and selective learning. Pedagogical learning involves infants' sensitivity to adults' communicative intentions, while selective learning highlights how infants prioritize information from reliable sources. Over time, the influence of pedagogical learning diminishes, whereas selective learning continues to play a central role as children grow. We argue for the distinctiveness and plurality of human social learning and emphasize the foundational role of multiple social interactions in cognitive development. Special attention is given to the transition from reliance on pedagogical cues to selective learning, underscoring the critical role of educators in facilitating this shift. We conclude by highlighting the increasing sophistication of cognitive and social selection processes in observation, imitation, and learning, alongside the implications for educational practices. Future research should investigate differences between social and other forms of learning, the mechanisms underlying the diminishing effects of pedagogical cues with age, the cultural variability in social learning trajectories, and the impact of educational technology on the development of social learning.
Keywords: Social learning, two-stage development theory, pedagogical clues, selective learning, Educational practice, Pluralist approach
Received: 14 Apr 2025; Accepted: 30 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Shang, Xia, Dong and Yin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Da Dong, Center for Brain, Mind and Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
Yating Yin, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang Province, China
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