Steven Pinker 
BY KIMONE, PEMBE AND SARAH
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pinker theory developed… 
Pinker was developed from other theorist work such as, political scientist John Mueller and 
sociologist Norbert Elias.
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

Steven pinker

  • 1.
    Steven Pinker BYKIMONE, PEMBE AND SARAH
  • 2.
    Background Information Stevenpinker 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 ofdevelopment 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 theorydoes 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 currentpractices 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