Verbal Behavior
Many people in the autism community have been talking about “Verbal Behavior.” Is it a part of ABA? Different from ABA? Better than ABA? What is Verbal Behavior? There sure has been a lot of verbal behavior about Verbal Behavior! To address these questions, here are some quick answers.
3. The analysis of verbal behavior is concerned with the functions of language including requests,
comments, and conversation. Verbal Behavior is a system of classifying language that behavior analysts find very useful, both from a theoretical perspective (how we think about language) and from a practical perspective (how to teach language). The behavioral psychologist, B. F. Skinner, developed the Verbal Behavior classification system in 1957, and wrote about it in his book Verbal Behavior. Skinner was concerned with expressive language, which also can be described as direct communication with others. There are several Verbal Behavior categories especially relevant to teaching learners with autism. Examples follow each category.
1. Given that ABA is the science of
understanding and improving human behavior, ABA includes the analysis of verbal behavior. 2. Verbal behavior is synonymous with communicative behavior. Any interaction in which information is being conveyed is verbal behavior. Thus, verbal behavior includes both vocal means (saying a word) and non-vocal means (pointing and gesturing) of communication.
Verbal Behavior Classifications
Echoic - imitating a sound, word, or phrase • Instructor says, “Say, ba” as she looks at a ball. Learner says “ba.”
Mand - making a request or demand • Learner reaches for a toy train (gesture) and says “choo choo” (speech). Tact - labeling something in the environment • A teacher holds up an eraser, and says, “What is it?” The learner says, “eraser.” Intraverbal - back and forth conversational exchange; talking about things or people not present • Joey says, “I saw a movie last night.” Henry says, “What movie did you see?” Joey says, “Finding Nemo. It’s about a fish.” Henry says, “Cool. I saw that one, too. It was good.”
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ABA Principles & Methods
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