How behaviorist concepts of learning processes can be used to explain how children learn to talk and think

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

5 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

03/18/2009

Category :

Social studies

Sub category :

Psychology

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Summary :

Introduction
1. Defining the main approaches
Rich environment and the passive child
1. Chomsky and the apparent creativity of language
Mental representations
1. Rejection of the idea of mental representations by behaviorists
2. Recent connectionist models of the brain
Quantitative development or qualitative development?
1. The view that both language and cognitive development proceeds in a gradual and continuous manner
2. Research done using habituation techniques on new-borns
Is development domain general?
Conclusion
Bibliography

Abstract

This essay will explore the behaviorist approaches to both language and cognitive development, at the same time critically evaluating it in terms of the main alternative approaches of nativism and constructivism (which also includes the social interaction approach to language). To do this it will first give a brief explanation of how behaviorists understand the development of language and thought. It will then list the main assumptions implicit in behaviorist views. Using these assumptions the essay will then look at evidence which both supports and contradicts these assumptions. In doing so it will draw on some approaches which although not strictly behaviorist do contain elements of associative or empiricist principal's most notable connectionist approaches. It will conclude by showing how rather than being seen as conflicting views, development may actually involve elements of all the approaches.