Verbal Behavior and Verbal Operants on the BCBA Exam
B.F. Skinner introduced his definitions of verbal operants and verbal behavior in his famous book “Verbal Behavior.” Verbal behavior is socially mediated and reinforced by another person’s behavior. In Applied Behavior Analysis, verbal operants are the primary focus of verbal behavior. These operants include: mands, tacts, echoics, intraverbals, textuals, and transcriptions. As you prepare for the BCBA exam, it is essential that you know every verbal operant, what evokes each verbal operant, and what reinforces each verbal operant. This blog post will review each operant individually and provide examples that can be applied when you take your BCBA exam.
Mand
A mand might be the most common and most taught operant in ABA. A mand is simply a request made by the speaker. When you ask to have your wants or needs met, you are engaging in a mand. Mands are evoked by motivating operations (MOs) due to deprivation or satiation of a stimulus. Once the mand is emitted, the mand is reinforced by the requested item. For example, if you are hungry, and you ask for a snack, that mand should be reinforced by the delivery of a snack. The mand was first evoked by deprivation of food (MO).
Mand: A request made by the speaker
Evoked: By an MO
Reinforced: By the requested item
Example: A child asking for food
Tact
A tact is a simple verbal operant, but one that is often taught incorrectly. A tact is when the speaker labels something in the environment. A tact is NOT evoked by a verbal SD like “what is this?”, but rather a tact is evoked by a non-verbal SD. In other words, a pure tact is seeing a stimulus and labeling that stimulus. Tacts are reinforced through generalized conditioned reinforcers. If you see a cow and say “cow” you have engaged in a tact. If you see a cow, and someone says “what is that?” and in response you say “cow” you have engaged in an intraverbal. Remember this on your BCBA exam!
Tact: A label
Evoked: Non-verbal SD
Reinforced: Generalized conditioned reinforcer
Example: You see a bird and say “bird”
Echoic
Echoing what another person said, or what was heard on a video or show, is a common trait associated with autism. An echoic is the verbal operant where the speaker repeats what they hear. An echoic is evoked by a verbal SD, has point-to-point correspondence with the SD, and has formal similarity with the SD. Point-to-point correspondence means each word is exactly the same. Formal similarity means the SD and the echoic take the same form (spoken, written, etc). An echoic is reinforced by a generalized conditioned reinforcer. For example, if I said “pick up your toys” and the client said “pick up your toys” that client would be emitting an echoic.
Echoic: Repeating
Evoked: Verbal SD
Formal similarity: Yes
Point-to-point correspondence: Yes
Reinforced: Generalized conditioned reinforcer
Example: I say “what is your name” and you say “what is your name”
Intraverbal
An intraverbal is a higher level of operant. An intraverbal is an exchange or a conversation. The speaker responds to another person. An intraverbal is evoked by a verbal SD. There is no point-to-point correspondence (the SD and response are different), but there may be formal similarity. Intraverbals are reinforced through social reinforcement. All conversations are intraverbals. If I ask “what is your name?” and you say “B. F. Skinner” you have engaged in an intraverbal. As you study for your BCBA exam, make sure you do several practice questions regarding operants.
Intraverbal: An exchange or conversation
Evoked: Verbal SD
Formal similarity: Potentially
Point-to-point correspondence: No
Reinforced: Social reinforcement
Example: I say “how was your day?” and you say “it was great!”
Textual
A textual is the act of reading. Whenever you read a sign, a book, or anything else you are engaging in a textual. A textual is evoked by a non-verbal SD. A textual has point-to-point correspondence with the SD, but no formal similarity (spoken vs. written). Textuals are reinforced through generalized conditioned reinforcers. Any example of reading something is a textual.
Textual: Reading
Evoked: Non-verbal SD
Formal similarity: No
Point-to-point correspondence: Yes
Reinforced: Generalized conditioned reinforcement
Example: Reading a book, a sign, or a text message
Transcription
The final verbal operant is a transcription. Transcriptions, or transcribing, is the act of writing something down that is spoken. Transcriptions are evoked by verbal SDs, have point-to-point correspondence, and no formal similarity. Transcriptions are reinforced through generalized conditioned reinforcers. Examples include dictating a conversation, or taking notes during a meeting.
Transcription: Writing down spoken word
Evoked: Verbal SD
Formal similarity: No
Point-to-point correspondence: Yes
Reinforced: Generalized conditioned reinforcement
Example: Taking notes
This concludes our overview of verbal operants that you need to know to pass your BCBA exam. If you’re looking for a fifth edition BCBA task list study guide, or a full-length BCBA practice exam, be sure and check out our store.
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