| Summary: | This paper discusses a class of phenomena called a “responsible decision”, a type of
decision making in which the choice between behavioural capabilities is determined by
the alternative values that lie behind them. Using Vygotksy’s theory of cultural and
historical development, this paper posits that the process of a child's internalization of
interpersonal dialogue is used as a means of making a responsible decision. The
participants in the study included 137 Russian children and adolescents, aged 6-17 years
old. The procedure used in the study showed an increase in the level of maturity of
responsible decisions in children aged 6-11-year-old. The study revealed that the primary
school age is the crucial time and area of proximal development for making responsible
decisions. This has implications for some of the methods which adults can use to support
a child’s ability to make responsible decisions.
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