Explain BF Skinner's behaviourism

Led by BF Skinner in the 1950s and 1960s, it was the position that children acquire
language just as they acquire other behaviors-through a system of Positive and Negative
Reinforcement. A child is encouraged to imitate the language and behavior if its parents and
receives Positive Reinforcement in the form of gratification of needs. Positive reinforcement- a child
will be more likely to speak like this again. Negative reinforcement- a child is less likely to use the
response because it is corrected or no praise is given at all.

What to look for in the text: Adults explicitly teaching, with children responding. Children imitating/
repeating adult’s speech. Children repairing mistakes after being corrected by adults.

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Answered by Martin Z. English Language tutor

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