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Applied Behavior Analysis & Systems Support

Cody Carraro, M.S., BCBA

Module 7: Verbal Behavior

Objectives

● Verbal Behavior

● Competency Check

● Review Assignments due this week

Verbal Behavior

01

Skinner, Chp. 1

Why Study Verbal Behavior?

Language is one of the most important areas of human behavior.

Traditional approaches often focus on:

● Grammar ● Syntax ● Cognitive processes ● Linguistic structures

Skinner approached language differently.

His primary question was:

"What environmental variables control verbal behavior?"

Rather than asking what language is, Skinner asked how language works.

Skinner's Definition of Verbal Behavior

Skinner (1957) defined verbal behavior as:

● “Behavior reinforced through the mediation of another person's behavior.”

The listener has been specifically conditioned by a verbal community to provide reinforcement for verbal responses.

This definition focuses on function rather than form.

Verbal behavior is defined by how reinforcement is obtained.

The critical question is:

Does another person's behavior mediate reinforcement?

The Speaker

The speaker is the individual who emits verbal behavior.

Examples:

● Asking a question ● Making a request ● Writing a note ● Sending a text message ● Using sign language ● Selecting symbols on an AAC device

The speaker's behavior affects the listener.

The Listener

The listener is the individual whose behavior has been conditioned by a verbal community.

The listener:

● Responds to verbal stimuli ● Mediates reinforcement ● Makes verbal behavior effective

Examples:

Speaker: "Open the door."

Listener: Opens the door.

Speaker: "Where is my book?"

Listener: Provides information.

Mediation of Verbal Behavior

Mediation is the defining feature of verbal behavior.

Without listener mediation, verbal behavior cannot achieve its effect.

Example:

A student raises a hand. → Teacher calls on the student. → The teacher's behavior mediates reinforcement. → The response becomes verbal behavior because another person participated in producing the outcome.

Verbal Behavior ● The function of verbal behavior is more important that what we say ● How and when we say something can change the function of the verbal behavior ● We have to keep in mind other’s reinforcement histories.

○ This can be influenced by culture, SES, how we have received feedback, etc. ● This all plays into our verbal communities

○ Would you speak the same way in a job interview to how you speak to your friends? ● A verbal community shapes how individuals learn to use and understand words. ● Communities reinforce some verbal responses and not others. ● This results in language variation across cultures and individuals.

Verbal Behavior Knowing our verbal communities are pivotal when communicating with other successfully ● We use our behavior analytic language within the field-to professors, researchers, other behavior

analysts, insurers, RBTs etc. ● We must translate our language when speaking to those outside of the field-BUT it MUST still be

conceptually systematic

Verbal Behavior

02

Johnston, Chp. 2

Radical Behaviorism Radical behaviorism covers and includes all behavior by the organism and it is either operant or respondent, including those in and outside of the skin (example, thinking).

Thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be considered private events since we cannot directly observe them.

What is an operant behavior according to radical behaviorism? ● Anxious? ● Frustration? ● Emotional regulation?

Methodological vs. Radicalism

Methodological Behaviorism

● Focuses only on publicly observable events. ● Excludes private events from analysis.

Radical Behaviorism

● Includes both public and private events. ● Analyzes all behavior using the same behavioral principles.

This distinction is frequently tested in ABA coursework.

Verbal Behavior ● Verbal behavior does not exist without humans

○ We need it to communicate and interact with others ● Words and the way we communicate with one another is how we, humans, have developed over

centuries ● Verbal behavior describes our world around us but they don’t exist in the same way

environmental stimuli exist? ○ This is because the way we as humans can interrupt verbal behavior differently based on a

range of factors ● Verbal behavior and communication can occur through social media, oral teaching, written

teachings, art, etc.

Assumptions of Radical Behaviorism Radical behaviorism assumes:

● Behavior is lawful. ● Behavior can be studied scientifically. ● Environmental variables influence behavior. ● Private events are behaviors subject to the same principles as public behavior. ● Explanations should be based on observable interactions between organisms and environments.

Determinism Determinism is a core assumption of behavior analysis.

Determinism states:

Behavior does not occur randomly.

Every behavior has causes that can be identified and studied.

Examples:

Studying increases before an exam. A child requests attention after being ignored. A client engages in escape behavior during difficult tasks.

Behavior analysts seek to identify these controlling variables.

Radical Behaviorism and Private Events

One of Skinner's most important contributions was his treatment of private events.

Private events include:

● Thinking ● Feeling ● Remembering ● Imagining ● Sensations

Radical behaviorism does not deny private events.

Instead, it treats them as behavior that occurs within the skin.

Private Events Are Real

A common misconception is that behavior analysts ignore thoughts and feelings.

This is incorrect.

Radical behaviorists acknowledge that:

● Thoughts occur. ● Feelings occur. ● Emotions occur.

The question is not whether they exist.

The question is how they relate to environmental variables and behavior.

Competency Check

03

Competency Check Which best describes the role of a verbal community in Skinner's theory of verbal behavior?

A) It determines innate language structures. B) It reinforces and shapes verbal behavior. C) It inhibits the development of language. D) It translates thoughts into speech.

Competency Check A parent tends to leave items at the bottom of the stairs so that if a family member is going upstairs they know to bring them up and put it away. Some of these items include books, backpacks or shoes.

Is this verbal or nonverbal behavior?

A. Verbal Behavior B. Nonverbal Behavior

Competency Check A parent tends to leave items at the bottom of the stairs so that if a family member is going upstairs they know to bring them up and put it away. Some of these items include books, backpacks or shoes.

What verbal operant is this?

A. Tact B. Mand C. Textual D. Intraverbal

Competency Check A parent is struggling to understand the intervention outlined in the Behavior Plan. What is the best way to help communicate the intervention so it is implemented correctly?

A. Translate the behavior plan into plain English and provide the parent with a physical copy B. Review the intervention verbally until they understand C. Demonstrate the intervention during a training session. D. All of the above

Competency Check I use a dry erase calendar to write down upcoming appointments. When I looked at the calendar I saw the reminder for a football game I am attending. When I noticed this I said to myself, “Ahh, that is right, I have the football game on Friday.”

The Ahh that is right…. Is what verbal operant?

A. Echoic B. Intraverbal C. Tact D. Textual

Competency Check Which of the following best identifies a mand as a verbal operant in Skinner’s analysis?

A) A child says "dog" when shown a picture of a dog. B) A student says "water" because they are thirsty. C) A person repeats "hello" after hearing someone say it. D) A teacher praises a student for saying "thank you."

Competency Check A child says "milk" when they are thirsty, and their parent gives them milk. Over time, the child continues to say "milk" whenever they're thirsty, and the parent consistently responds by giving it.

According to Skinner’s theory of verbal communities, what role is the parent playing?

A) Modeling complex grammar B) Correcting incorrect speech C) Reinforcing the child’s verbal behavior D) Teaching abstract language concepts

Competency Check

Which statement best reflects the concept of radical behaviorism?

A) Behavior is solely determined by genetic inheritance. B) Only observable behavior should be studied; thoughts are irrelevant. C) Both observable behavior and private events (like thoughts and feelings) can be analyzed as behavior. D) Human behavior cannot be predicted or controlled.

What’s Due this Week

04

Module 7 Discussion Prompt: How does cultural humility play a role in assessing verbal behavior given the findings of Masek et al., (2021)? How can this be utilized in your practice as a BCBA? Provide specific examples.

Write it utilizing 2 references

Make sure to comment on at least one peer’s post

Assignment #2 Assignment #2 is due week 9 There will be a follow-up to Assignment #2 due week 10

Assignment 2 involves you selecting an environment and going to do a observation report and then type out a more formal analysis of your findings.

Once that is submitted you will then get randomly assigned another peer observation report and grade them based on the rubric.

Due for Module 7 this Week ● Practice SAFMEDs daily. Please note: you must be charting at least (5)

days per week. You will verify your progress by uploading your SCC Chart(s) in the Module 7 SAFMEDS Folder.

● Be sure you have reviewed all multimedia content in the Lesson. ● Complete an original response to the discussion prompt for Module 7.

Please follow the rubric in recent announcement. ● You do not have a module quiz or guided notes this week. ● Remember to place your attendance or viewing confirmation for this

week’s lecture in the designated Module 7 folder.

Discussion Post Rubric 20 Possible Points

Category 4 Points 2 Points 0 Points

Length of Post The author’s post consisted of 300-250 words

The author’s post consisted of 250-3000 words

The author’s post consisted of 250 words or less

Grammar, Usage, Spelling

The author’s post contained less than 2 grammar, usage, or spelling errors.

The author’s post contained 3-4 grammar, usage, or spelling errors.

The author’s post contained more than 5 grammar, usage, or spelling errors and proofreading was not apparent.

Referencing and Utilizing Outside Sources

The author posted references from peer-reviewed behavioral article AND one of the assigned readings.

The author posted references from peer-reviewed behavioral article OR one of the assigned readings.

The author neither utilized a peer-reviewed behavioral article OR one of the assigned readings.

Promotes Discussion The author’s post clearly responds to the assignment prompt, develops ideas cogently, organizes them logically, and supports them through empirical writing. The author’s post also raises questions or stimulates discussion.

The author’s post responds to the assignment prompt but relies heavily on definitional explanations and does not create and develop original ideas and support them logically. The author’s post may stimulate some discussion.

The author’s post does not correspond with the assignment prompt, mainly discusses personal opinions, irrelevant information, or information is presented with limited logic and lack of development and organization of ideas Does not support any claims made.

Demonstrates Application of the Assigned Reading and Behavioral Concepts

The author’s post clearly demonstrates application and relationship to the week’s assigned reading/topic.

The author’s post refers to the assigned topic/reading tangentially but does not demonstrate application.

The author’s post does not demonstrate application of the week’s assigned topic/reading.

Be advised, there are also response costs associated with specific behaviors:

● A response cost of 3 points will be administered for not responding to a peer’s post ● A response cost of 3 points will be administered for late submissions (up to 2 days) ● Discussion posts that are more than two days late will not be accepted unless excused by the

instructor

image1.png

Applied Behavior Analysis & Systems Support

Cody Carraro, M.S., BCBA

Module 7: Verbal Behavior

Objectives

● Verbal Behavior

● Competency Check

● Review Assignments due this week

Verbal Behavior

01

Skinner, Chp. 1

Why Study Verbal Behavior?

Language is one of the most important areas of human behavior.

Traditional approaches often focus on:

● Grammar ● Syntax ● Cognitive processes ● Linguistic structures

Skinner approached language differently.

His primary question was:

"What environmental variables control verbal behavior?"

Rather than asking what language is, Skinner asked how language works.

Skinner's Definition of Verbal Behavior

Skinner (1957) defined verbal behavior as:

● “Behavior reinforced through the mediation of another person's behavior.”

The listener has been specifically conditioned by a verbal community to provide reinforcement for verbal responses.

This definition focuses on function rather than form.

Verbal behavior is defined by how reinforcement is obtained.

The critical question is:

Does another person's behavior mediate reinforcement?

The Speaker

The speaker is the individual who emits verbal behavior.

Examples:

● Asking a question ● Making a request ● Writing a note ● Sending a text message ● Using sign language ● Selecting symbols on an AAC device

The speaker's behavior affects the listener.

The Listener

The listener is the individual whose behavior has been conditioned by a verbal community.

The listener:

● Responds to verbal stimuli ● Mediates reinforcement ● Makes verbal behavior effective

Examples:

Speaker: "Open the door."

Listener: Opens the door.

Speaker: "Where is my book?"

Listener: Provides information.

Mediation of Verbal Behavior

Mediation is the defining feature of verbal behavior.

Without listener mediation, verbal behavior cannot achieve its effect.

Example:

A student raises a hand. → Teacher calls on the student. → The teacher's behavior mediates reinforcement. → The response becomes verbal behavior because another person participated in producing the outcome.

Verbal Behavior ● The function of verbal behavior is more important that what we say ● How and when we say something can change the function of the verbal behavior ● We have to keep in mind other’s reinforcement histories.

○ This can be influenced by culture, SES, how we have received feedback, etc. ● This all plays into our verbal communities

○ Would you speak the same way in a job interview to how you speak to your friends? ● A verbal community shapes how individuals learn to use and understand words. ● Communities reinforce some verbal responses and not others. ● This results in language variation across cultures and individuals.

Verbal Behavior Knowing our verbal communities are pivotal when communicating with other successfully ● We use our behavior analytic language within the field-to professors, researchers, other behavior

analysts, insurers, RBTs etc. ● We must translate our language when speaking to those outside of the field-BUT it MUST still be

conceptually systematic

Verbal Behavior

02

Johnston, Chp. 2

Radical Behaviorism Radical behaviorism covers and includes all behavior by the organism and it is either operant or respondent, including those in and outside of the skin (example, thinking).

Thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be considered private events since we cannot directly observe them.

What is an operant behavior according to radical behaviorism? ● Anxious? ● Frustration? ● Emotional regulation?

Methodological vs. Radicalism

Methodological Behaviorism

● Focuses only on publicly observable events. ● Excludes private events from analysis.

Radical Behaviorism

● Includes both public and private events. ● Analyzes all behavior using the same behavioral principles.

This distinction is frequently tested in ABA coursework.

Verbal Behavior ● Verbal behavior does not exist without humans

○ We need it to communicate and interact with others ● Words and the way we communicate with one another is how we, humans, have developed over

centuries ● Verbal behavior describes our world around us but they don’t exist in the same way

environmental stimuli exist? ○ This is because the way we as humans can interrupt verbal behavior differently based on a

range of factors ● Verbal behavior and communication can occur through social media, oral teaching, written

teachings, art, etc.

Assumptions of Radical Behaviorism Radical behaviorism assumes:

● Behavior is lawful. ● Behavior can be studied scientifically. ● Environmental variables influence behavior. ● Private events are behaviors subject to the same principles as public behavior. ● Explanations should be based on observable interactions between organisms and environments.

Determinism Determinism is a core assumption of behavior analysis.

Determinism states:

Behavior does not occur randomly.

Every behavior has causes that can be identified and studied.

Examples:

Studying increases before an exam. A child requests attention after being ignored. A client engages in escape behavior during difficult tasks.

Behavior analysts seek to identify these controlling variables.

Radical Behaviorism and Private Events

One of Skinner's most important contributions was his treatment of private events.

Private events include:

● Thinking ● Feeling ● Remembering ● Imagining ● Sensations

Radical behaviorism does not deny private events.

Instead, it treats them as behavior that occurs within the skin.

Private Events Are Real

A common misconception is that behavior analysts ignore thoughts and feelings.

This is incorrect.

Radical behaviorists acknowledge that:

● Thoughts occur. ● Feelings occur. ● Emotions occur.

The question is not whether they exist.

The question is how they relate to environmental variables and behavior.

Competency Check

03

Competency Check Which best describes the role of a verbal community in Skinner's theory of verbal behavior?

A) It determines innate language structures. B) It reinforces and shapes verbal behavior. C) It inhibits the development of language. D) It translates thoughts into speech.

Competency Check A parent tends to leave items at the bottom of the stairs so that if a family member is going upstairs they know to bring them up and put it away. Some of these items include books, backpacks or shoes.

Is this verbal or nonverbal behavior?

A. Verbal Behavior B. Nonverbal Behavior

Competency Check A parent tends to leave items at the bottom of the stairs so that if a family member is going upstairs they know to bring them up and put it away. Some of these items include books, backpacks or shoes.

What verbal operant is this?

A. Tact B. Mand C. Textual D. Intraverbal

Competency Check A parent is struggling to understand the intervention outlined in the Behavior Plan. What is the best way to help communicate the intervention so it is implemented correctly?

A. Translate the behavior plan into plain English and provide the parent with a physical copy B. Review the intervention verbally until they understand C. Demonstrate the intervention during a training session. D. All of the above

Competency Check I use a dry erase calendar to write down upcoming appointments. When I looked at the calendar I saw the reminder for a football game I am attending. When I noticed this I said to myself, “Ahh, that is right, I have the football game on Friday.”

The Ahh that is right…. Is what verbal operant?

A. Echoic B. Intraverbal C. Tact D. Textual

Competency Check Which of the following best identifies a mand as a verbal operant in Skinner’s analysis?

A) A child says "dog" when shown a picture of a dog. B) A student says "water" because they are thirsty. C) A person repeats "hello" after hearing someone say it. D) A teacher praises a student for saying "thank you."

Competency Check A child says "milk" when they are thirsty, and their parent gives them milk. Over time, the child continues to say "milk" whenever they're thirsty, and the parent consistently responds by giving it.

According to Skinner’s theory of verbal communities, what role is the parent playing?

A) Modeling complex grammar B) Correcting incorrect speech C) Reinforcing the child’s verbal behavior D) Teaching abstract language concepts

Competency Check

Which statement best reflects the concept of radical behaviorism?

A) Behavior is solely determined by genetic inheritance. B) Only observable behavior should be studied; thoughts are irrelevant. C) Both observable behavior and private events (like thoughts and feelings) can be analyzed as behavior. D) Human behavior cannot be predicted or controlled.

What’s Due this Week

04

Module 7 Discussion Prompt: How does cultural humility play a role in assessing verbal behavior given the findings of Masek et al., (2021)? How can this be utilized in your practice as a BCBA? Provide specific examples.

Write it utilizing 2 references

Make sure to comment on at least one peer’s post

Assignment #2 Assignment #2 is due week 9 There will be a follow-up to Assignment #2 due week 10

Assignment 2 involves you selecting an environment and going to do a observation report and then type out a more formal analysis of your findings.

Once that is submitted you will then get randomly assigned another peer observation report and grade them based on the rubric.

Due for Module 7 this Week ● Practice SAFMEDs daily. Please note: you must be charting at least (5)

days per week. You will verify your progress by uploading your SCC Chart(s) in the Module 7 SAFMEDS Folder.

● Be sure you have reviewed all multimedia content in the Lesson. ● Complete an original response to the discussion prompt for Module 7.

Please follow the rubric in recent announcement. ● You do not have a module quiz or guided notes this week. ● Remember to place your attendance or viewing confirmation for this

week’s lecture in the designated Module 7 folder.