Verbal Behavior Flashcards

Which verbal operant is defined as a verbal behavior evoked by a motivating operation and reinforced by a specific consequence mediated by a listener?

Answer: Mand

A mand is controlled by a motivating operation and produces specific reinforcement directly related to the current need or want of the speaker.

A child sees a picture of a cat and says 'cat.' This exemplifies which verbal operant?

Answer: Tact

A tact is a verbal operant controlled by a nonverbal stimulus (the picture of a cat) and maintained by generalized conditioned reinforcement from the listener.

When a learner repeats exactly what a trainer says with point-to-point correspondence, this is called a(n):

Answer: Echoic

An echoic is a verbal operant where the response formally resembles (has point-to-point correspondence with) the verbal stimulus that evoked it.

Which verbal operant is evoked by a verbal stimulus but does NOT share point-to-point correspondence with that stimulus?

Answer: Intraverbal

An intraverbal is a verbal response evoked by another verbal stimulus, but the response does not match or correspond point-to-point with the evoking stimulus.

B.F. Skinner's foundational analysis of verbal behavior was published in which year?

Answer: 1957

Skinner published 'Verbal Behavior' in 1957, providing a functional analysis of language based on operant conditioning principles.

A thirsty child says 'water' to their parent. This verbal behavior is best classified as a:

Answer: Mand

This is a mand because the response is controlled by a motivating operation (thirst/water deprivation) and is reinforced by the specific item requested (water).

Which verbal operant involves reading written text aloud, where the written word controls the spoken response?

Answer: Textual

A textual response is a verbal operant evoked by a written verbal stimulus and requires point-to-point correspondence between the written and spoken word.