CLA: Behaviourism

Question 1

Who is the main theorist behind this theory?

Answer 1

B.F Skinner

Question 2

What key concepts do you need to know for this theory?

Answer 2

• Imitation
• Operant conditioning
• Positive and negative reinforcement

Question 3

What is Argument (1) to support Behaviourism?

Answer 3

• Recognises importance of input from speakers around the child. Explains features like accent and dialect and repeating language.

Question 4

What is Argument (2) to support Behaviourism?

Answer 4

• Learn aspects of language that cannot be learned by themselves e.g. pragmatics such as politeness.

Question 5

What is Argument (1) against Behaviourism?

Answer 5

• Children do not simply imitate language or construct grammatically complete sentences as soon as they begin to talk.

Question 6

What is Argument (2) against Behaviourism?

Answer 6

• There needs to be pragmatic awareness of social conventions and these can’t just be ‘imitated’.

Question 7

What is Argument (3) against Behaviourism?

Answer 7

• Form sentences that they’ve never heard before.

Question 8

What is Argument (4) against Behaviourism?

Answer 8

• Speak ungrammatical spoken language but they’re still learning the correct language

Question 9

What is Argument (5) against Behaviourism?

Answer 9

• Imitiation doesn’t always mean they understand.

Question 10

What is Argument (6) against Behaviourism?

Answer 10

• Do not seem to respond with the correct answer when negatively reinforced.

Question 11

What is Argument (7) against Behaviourism?

Answer 11

• Correction by parents isn’t always given.