Quick summary of Behaviourism and Acquisitition Flashcards
How does behaviourism explain the development of children’s writing and speaking skills?
Behaviorism posits that children acquire language through environmental stimuli and responses. Reinforcements and punishments shape their writing and speaking behaviors, with positive feedback encouraging desired language use.
What is operant conditioning, and how does it relate to language development?
Operant conditioning, a concept introduced by B.F. Skinner, involves learning through consequences. In language development, children learn to speak and write by receiving rewards for correct usage and corrections for errors, reinforcing appropriate language behaviors.
What are some criticisms of applying behaviorist principles to language acquisition?
Critics argue that behaviorism cannot fully explain the complexity of language acquisition. Noam Chomsky contended that children can produce sentences they’ve never heard before, suggesting innate linguistic structures beyond mere reinforcement.
How does the concept of ‘verbal behavior’ fit into Skinner’s theory?
Skinner’s ‘verbal behavior’ theory suggests that language is a form of behavior shaped by environmental factors. He categorized verbal behaviors into types like mands (requests) and tacts (labels), each influenced by specific reinforcements.
How do behaviourist approaches to language development compare to nativist theories?
Behaviorist approaches emphasize environmental influence and learning through reinforcement, while nativist theories, like Chomsky’s, propose that language acquisition is innate, with children possessing an inherent ability to learn language structures.
