https://notes.bencuan.me/psych143/Recent content in Psych 143: Language Acquisition onHugoenhttps://notes.bencuan.me/psych143/introduction/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://notes.bencuan.me/psych143/introduction/<h2 id="why-study-language-development"> Why study language development? <a class="anchor" href="#why-study-language-development">#</a> </h2> <p>Language learning is an astonishing feat of human development. By the age of 18 months, young children can already form simple sentences and communicate thought. As our language skills grow increasingly complex over age, it develops into a skill that is unique to humans and forms the foundation of modern society.</p> <h2 id="behaviorism-nativism-and-constructivism"> Behaviorism, Nativism, and Constructivism <a class="anchor" href="#behaviorism-nativism-and-constructivism">#</a> </h2> <p><strong>Behaviorists</strong> claim that language is learned through reinforcement: the mind is like a black box where inputs are mapped to outputs based on past experiences. Under the behaviorist approach, the only evidence used is what can be directly observed and inspected (stimulus and response).</p>