Also, Chomsky shows that Skinner provides no experimental evidence to support his model for verbal behavior and further, makes no attempt to understand verbal behavior before attempting to model it. According to Chomsky, Skinner’s model for verbal behavior is unscientific because it reaches beyond its scope and is unprovable. Chomsky’s assessment of Skinner’s model is sound; however, Chomsky himself overreaches when he rejects completely Skinner’s application of his model for operant behavior to that of verbal behavior. Chomsky is correct that Skinner’s model for operant behavior does not accurately describe the full scope of verbal behavior because the model is too simple to describe the complexities of verbal behavior; however, Skinner’s model can be used to describe the basis of verbal behavior and language acquisition. Skinner’s model for verbal behavior is extrapolated from his model for operant behavior. Skinner, a behaviorist, thinks that behavior is observable and is guided completely by external factors.
Also, Chomsky shows that Skinner provides no experimental evidence to support his model for verbal behavior and further, makes no attempt to understand verbal behavior before attempting to model it. According to Chomsky, Skinner’s model for verbal behavior is unscientific because it reaches beyond its scope and is unprovable. Chomsky’s assessment of Skinner’s model is sound; however, Chomsky himself overreaches when he rejects completely Skinner’s application of his model for operant behavior to that of verbal behavior. Chomsky is correct that Skinner’s model for operant behavior does not accurately describe the full scope of verbal behavior because the model is too simple to describe the complexities of verbal behavior; however, Skinner’s model can be used to describe the basis of verbal behavior and language acquisition. Skinner’s model for verbal behavior is extrapolated from his model for operant behavior. Skinner, a behaviorist, thinks that behavior is observable and is guided completely by external factors.