Verbal Behavior
Applied behavior analysis can be used to teach individuals verbal behavior and is based on the work of B.F. Skinner in his book Verbal Behavior (1957).
Verbal behavior focuses on teaching functional language. The aspects of functional language that are targeted include:
Echoics are vocal imitative behavior. Once a learner has established an echoic repertoire it allows the learner to imitate any vocal model.
In common terms, a mand is verbal behavior in which an individual requests, while a tact is verbal behavior in which a learner labels. For example, a mand can be thought of as an instance in which a student asks for something (ex. "Drink, please." to request a drink). An example of a tact is when a student sees a dog and says, "Dog."
An intraverbal is behavior that is controlled by other verbal behavior. Intraverbal behavior is when a speaker differentially responds to the verbal behavior of others. An example of an intraverbal is the response, "Robin" when someone asks, "Who is Batman's sidekick?"
Verbal behavior focuses on teaching functional language. The aspects of functional language that are targeted include:
- Echoics
- Mands
- Tacts
- Intraverbals
Echoics are vocal imitative behavior. Once a learner has established an echoic repertoire it allows the learner to imitate any vocal model.
In common terms, a mand is verbal behavior in which an individual requests, while a tact is verbal behavior in which a learner labels. For example, a mand can be thought of as an instance in which a student asks for something (ex. "Drink, please." to request a drink). An example of a tact is when a student sees a dog and says, "Dog."
An intraverbal is behavior that is controlled by other verbal behavior. Intraverbal behavior is when a speaker differentially responds to the verbal behavior of others. An example of an intraverbal is the response, "Robin" when someone asks, "Who is Batman's sidekick?"
