COMPARE AND CONTRAST TWO THEORIES OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT

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Rukshana Khanom                04063381

COMPARE AND CONTRAST TWO THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT

Psychologists have differing opinions in their explanations for the development of a child, there are various approaches and this essay aims to compare and contrast Chomsky’s rationalist approach and Skinner’s behaviourist approach to child development. Particular attention will be given to the development of language in children, highlighting the similarities and differences in both theories. To begin with language can be defined as a “symbolisation of thought. It is a learned, code or a system of rules that enable us to communicate ideas and express words and needs” (Paivo. & Begg: Psychology of Language 1981). Language communication consists of two main processes; the production of language e.g. speaking and writing, and the reception of language e.g. understanding the speech or writing. Consequently how does a child acquire this level of language, what processes do they undergo? Research has identified biological elements accountable for the production of language, e.g. Broca’s area of the brain is responsible for the construction of speech. Therefore biology inevitably plays a role in the acquisition of language.

The behaviourists approach views language acquisition as a result of the child’s interaction with the environment. Skinner’s explanation of language was “Any acquisition was due to a learning process involving the shaping of grammar into a correct form by the reinforcement of other stimulus, where correct grammar is positively reinforced and will be used in the future and incorrect grammar is negatively reinforced and will not be used again” (Chomsky vs. Skinner on Language: ). This is otherwise known as operant conditioning where the child imitates adult language through the process of positive and negative reinforcements e.g. encouragement such as ‘well done’ from parents, for the use of correct grammar. Skinner however argued that the process of reinforcement is only successful when and if a child is reinforced progressively. In other words the child’s initial vocalisations which approximate words are reinforced, as the child develops, gradual reinforcement is given or withheld until the child begins to combine words as sentences and finally progressive reinforcement is given or withheld until the child is able to construct words as grammatically sound sentences. Skinner’s concept of operant conditioning was based on his observations conducted in laboratories. His idea for operant conditioning stemmed from Pavlov’s classical conditioning research as well as his study conducted on animals using the ‘Skinner Box’. Therefore Skinner firmly believes that children develop language through their interactions with the environment, in particular the reinforcements they receive as a result of certain vocalisations.

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In contrast Chomsky argues that language acquisition is an innate biological ability that is common amongst all humans. He initially based his ideas on his own observations of children informally. Chomsky says, “Children do not build grammars primarily from the evidence they hear, but according to an inner design - a genetic program” (Chomsky, 1972, p.171; 1980, pp 232-234). He claimed that each child has a biological predisposition to learn a language fluently; this is formerly known as the Language Acquisition Device or LAD. Within this LAD there exists a system of ‘Universal Grammar’, an innate knowledge system which ...

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