C_S_D 4020 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Executive Functions, Magical Thinking, Omega Language
Document Summary
Four major theories of language development: behaviorist theory. Reward and punishment result in behavior becoming more or less frequent. Early language development occurs because caregivers reinforce a child"s verbal behavior. Reinforcement: consequence that lead to increase in behavior. Learner must become increasingly accurate in order to earn a reward. Punishment: consequences that lead to decrease in a behavior. Extinction: behaviors that are not reinforced will gradually disappear. Chaining: teaching a complex behavior by breaking it down into separate steps. Each step in the sequence is reinforced until it becomes established. Antecedents are provided and desirable responses are reinforced. Does not require sophisticated grasp of hypothetical constructs. Limitation: does not account well for complex or novel behaviors: constructivist theory. Cognitive development proceeds in a series of stages. Children actively construct their knowledge of the world. Schema: concept or mental category; formed as child interacts with the world. Assimilation: new info is added to an existing scheme; errors can occur.