2. Background Information
Steven pinker is a psychologist is a famous writer on language, mind and human
nature. He was born in 1954, he earned a bachelor’s degree in experimental
psychology at McGill University in 1976. Steven Pinker is an experimental psychologist
who is interested in all aspects of language and the mind.
3. What area of development their ideas
are addressed.
The area of development Steven Pinker’s theory is addressed for is gender differences. This
is because his theory is based on how language influences gender differences such as the
way we talk. For example boys talking in a rude manner as they have been brought up as
they are the breadwinner and the man. However the girls are less aggressive with using
language as they should be lady like.
4. Steven Pinker Theory
Steven Pinker’s theory is about the human language being a complex biological adaptation
to use in in our everyday social lifestyle. Pinker became well known for promoting
computational learning theory as a way to understand language. His theory is based on how
children use language for example; having the ability to use different kinds of verbs in
appropriate sentences. Steven Pinker focuses on two of these areas which are, visual cognition
and language. Pinker concentrated on how the mind works “The brain is an organ whose
function is computation”. His theory is based on language influences such as how language
can impact on gender differences.
5. How this theory does effects the
development of children?
Steven pinker is a psychologist which shows the differences between the different genders as
being part of how we evolved this is therefore natural.
For example boys prefer exams and girls prefer course work.
Positive aspects of the theory –
Children end up having a voice of their own and can express their views opinions and what
interests them.
Negative aspects of the theory-
I have not found any negative aspects of the theory so far.
6. Influence in current practices
Steven Pinker influence current practice in the early years setting today by allowing children to
express themselves through different types of language which allows children to have individuality
in gender difference. For example, in the setting children always have access to writing materials
and other resources which allow them to form there own person such as, the different colours,
drawing themselves with the different features. Pinker has impacted on gender differences as he
has broken down the barrier to male and female dominated subjects such as football,
gymnastics, hair and beauty, childcare, etc. by allowing both genders to partake in these
activities and encourages these games regardless of the stereotypes.
7. Pinker theory developed…
Pinker was developed from other theorist work such as, political scientist John Mueller and
sociologist Norbert Elias.
8. Bibliography
Baker, B; Beith, K; Byers, E; Daly, M; Forbes, S; Griffin, S; Marshall, H (2012). Children &Young
people’s Workforce. London.
Steven Pinker: (2014)
http://www.famouspsychologists.org/steven-pinker/
23/09/14
