How does the theory of behaviorism explain children's learning process?

The theory of behaviorism explains children's learning process by likening language acquisition to the development of motor skills, where learning occurs through conditioning and reinforcement. According to this perspective, children learn language by imitating the speech of others and receiving feedback, which reinforces correct usage and gradually shapes their linguistic abilities. Just as motor skills develop through practice and positive reinforcement, language skills are seen as being acquired through similar mechanisms of repetition and reinforcement, whereby correct utterances are rewarded, leading to increased proficiency over time.

This approach emphasizes the importance of observable behaviors and external stimuli in facilitating learning, rather than innate cognitive structures or purely biological factors. Thus, children are thought to learn language in much the same way they learn to walk or run: through repeated practice, imitation, and reinforcement, underscoring the role of the environment in the learning process.