Behaviourism
English Language: AQA A Level, topic 2.2.1
Behaviourism
The theory of behaviourism is often accredited to B. F. Skinner. Skinner says that a child learns language based on positive and negative reinforcement of ideas.
Examples
- For example, when a child correctly calls a dog "a dog", a caregiver may say something positive like ‘yes, that’s the dog’ to reinforce the idea.
- Similarly, when an incorrect utterance is produced, like the child calling a dog a cat, the caregiver may say something negative, like ‘no, that’s not a cat, it’s a dog’. Tone of voice and paralinguistic features will often assist with this.
What to do in the exam
- In the exam, look for the caregivers repeating and reinforcing utterances made by the child.
Test yourself on Behaviourism
Who is accredited with the theory of behaviourism?
What should you do in the exam?