Which term describes the belief that the human mind is essentially empty at birth?

Which term describes the belief that the human mind is essentially empty at birth?

• A. Tabula rasa
• B. Growth mindset
• C. Embodied mind perspective
• D. Humanism

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is the view of the mind at birth. Tabula rasa describes the mind as essentially empty at birth and ready to be filled by experience; it literally means "blank slate." This perspective holds that knowledge and mental structure come from sensory experience and reflection, a stance central to empiricist thinking and the nature-versus-nurture discussion, with John Locke as a key advocate. The other options point to different ideas about development: a growth mindset is about the belief that abilities can be developed with effort and learning, not about the mind’s starting state; the embodied mind perspective emphasizes that cognition arises through interactions between the body and the environment; humanism focuses on human potential, dignity, and self-actualization rather than whether the mind is blank at birth. So tabula rasa is the best fit for describing a mind that is empty at birth.

The main idea being tested is the view of the mind at birth. Tabula rasa describes the mind as essentially empty at birth and ready to be filled by experience; it literally means "blank slate." This perspective holds that knowledge and mental structure come from sensory experience and reflection, a stance central to empiricist thinking and the nature-versus-nurture discussion, with John Locke as a key advocate. The other options point to different ideas about development: a growth mindset is about the belief that abilities can be developed with effort and learning, not about the mind’s starting state; the embodied mind perspective emphasizes that cognition arises through interactions between the body and the environment; humanism focuses on human potential, dignity, and self-actualization rather than whether the mind is blank at birth. So tabula rasa is the best fit for describing a mind that is empty at birth.