Verbal Behavior

ABSC Lecture (Tue, Mar 31)

Structuralists

Primarily, cognitive psychologists, who emphasized the structural aspect of language, viewed it as a system of symbols with a focus on syntax and word order.

Functionalists

Primarily, behavioral psychologists who viewed language as “verbal behavior”; subject to the same principles of learning as any other behavior (operant).

Functionalist

Skinner

Structuralist

Chomsky

Impossible Theory

skinner

Miracle Theory

chomsky

Verbal Behavior

Develops as a skill out of the interactions between the individial and the enviornment

Socially mediated reinforcement

Reinforcement that is delivered through the actions of another person

How does verbal behavior develop?

Verbal behavior develops as a skill out of the interactions between the individial and those in their envioronment

Unit of Analysis

The four-term contingency serves as the primary unit of analysis in understanding verbal behavior.

Establishing Operation (EO)

This alters the effectiveness of a reinforcer and the probability of a related repsonse

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

This is a stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement for a specific response

Response

This is the verbal behavior itself

Consequence

This is the reinforcement or punishment that follows the response

Verbal Operant

Unit of language defined by its function

Unit of Analysis Formula

Antecedent (A) + Behavior (B) = Consequence (C)

Point-to-point correspondence

The verbal antecedent matches exactly with the verbal response

Formal Similarity

The antecedent stimulus and verbal response share the same form

Mand

Type of verbal operant that is controlled by a motivating operation and is reinforced by a specific consequence

Tact

Type of verbal operant that is controlled by a nonverbal stimulus and is reinforced by generalized conditioned reinforcement

Echoic

A verbal response that is evoked by a verbal stimulus, and shares a direct, point-to-point correspondence with the stimulus, has formal similarity, and is maintained by generalized conditioned reinforcers

Textual

A verbal operant that refers to the act of reading written words, has point-to-point correspondence, but no formal similarity, and is maintained by generalized conditioned reinforcement

Intraverbal

A speaker responds to another’s verbal behavior, but without point-to-point correspondence and reproduce generalized conditioned reinforcement

Cooing

Vowel-like sounds occuring in pleasant situations

Babbling

Repetitive syllables, often consisting of consonant-vowel combinations

Echolalic Babbling

Production of babbling sounds that mimic the intonation of adult speech

VB-MAPP

Developmentally sequenced, meaning it tracks skills in a manner consistent with typical development

Milestones Assessment

Evaluates 170 developmental milestones in language, learning, and social skills

Barriers Assessment

Identifies potential obstacles that may impede learning

Transition Assessment

Assists in planning for future educational needs