According to behaviorist theory, children's vocabularies increase and their pronunciation improves as
A)parents insist on closer and closer approximations of the correct word before they provide reinforcement.
B)the quality of their problem-solving ability improves.
C)the brain matures with age.
D)transformational rules are mastered.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Behaviorist theory, particularly associated with B.F. Skinner, posits that language development occurs through operant conditioning. Children learn to speak and refine their language skills through reinforcement. When parents reward attempts at speech that more closely approximate the correct pronunciation or usage, children are encouraged to refine their speech further. This process is known as shaping.

According to Behaviorist Theory, Children's Vocabularies Increase and Their Pronunciation