Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


nativistic theory

in linguistics, the theory that human beings are born with an innate knowledge of language that enables them to structure and interpret the data they encounter as language learners. Although certain theories about the origins of human language in prehistory have been termed nativistic (see language-origin theory), the term is now mainly associated with Noam Chomsky’s theory of language acquisition in young children. See language acquisition device; language universal.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

February 22nd 2025

conditioned reinforcer

conditioned reinforcer

see natural reinforcer; secondary reinforcement.