Verbal Behavior

Verbal Behavior is a term in psychology and linguistics that refers to a form of behavior that is mediated by the use of language or symbols. It encompasses both spoken and written language, as well as non-verbal forms of communication such as sign language. The concept of verbal behavior is central to understanding how humans communicate, learn, and interact with their environment.

Definition

Verbal behavior is defined as behavior that is reinforced through the mediation of another person's behavior. This means that unlike non-verbal behavior, which can have direct physical effects on the environment, verbal behavior affects the environment through the social mediation of other people's actions. The term was popularized by B.F. Skinner in his 1957 book, Verbal Behavior, where he analyzed language based on the principles of behaviorism.

Types of Verbal Behavior

Skinner identified several types of verbal behavior, each distinguished by its controlling variables:

• Mands: Requests or demands, controlled by a state of deprivation or aversion, where the speaker is benefited.
• Tacts: Comments about the environment, controlled by external stimuli, where the reinforcement is social in nature.
• Intraverbals: Responses to other verbal behavior, where the stimulus is verbal and the response does not directly correspond to the stimulus.
• Echoics: Imitations of verbal behavior, where the stimulus and response are identical.
• Autoclitics: Verbal behavior that modifies or refers to other verbal behavior, providing additional context or meaning.

Applications and Implications

The analysis of verbal behavior has significant implications for various fields:

• In education, particularly in teaching language and communication skills to individuals with autism or other developmental disorders.
• In clinical psychology and psychotherapy, understanding verbal behavior can enhance therapeutic communication and intervention strategies.
• In linguistics, it offers a behavioral perspective on language development and usage.

Criticism and Controversy

Skinner's behaviorist view of language has been criticized, particularly by Noam Chomsky in his 1959 review of Verbal Behavior. Chomsky argued that Skinner's approach failed to account for the complexity of human language, including the ability to produce and understand novel sentences. This criticism helped to spur the development of the cognitive science approach to language and mind.

See Also

• Behaviorism
• Cognitive Psychology
• Language Acquisition
• Speech Therapy