PSYCH 1X03 Chapter Notes - Chapter Ch 4-6: Operant Conditioning, Social Learning Theory, Classical Conditioning
10 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Infants are able to distinguish more phonemes than adults. The ability of infants to discriminate between any sounds they"re tested on. Children develop phonemic sensitivity based on the language they grew up with. Disappears mostly at the end of their first year of life. Adults require more practice to distinguish phonemes in a new language than infants. In training phase, infant learns to discriminate 2 different phonemes and turn his head towards the speaker. When he does so to a new sound, he is rewarded with presentation of a toy. In 2nd phase, infant becomes habituated to particular phonemes by playing it repeatedly until the infant stops looking. New test phoneme is presented and infant turns head. Two major theories of language development guide how researchers understand the acquisition of language: social learning theory. Children learn language through a combination of imitation and operant conditioning. Lack of early social interaction leads to an inability to develop language skills.
