Introductory Concepts
Elementary Relationships
Extensions of Verbal Behavior
Multiple Controlling Relationships
Building on the Elementary Relationships
Text of An Introduction to Verbal Behavior © 1978-2024 Norman Peterson, Ph.D. Graphics and other media elements of An Introduction to Verbal Behavior is © 2010-2024 FoxyLearning LLC and distributed under CC BY-NC-SA
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3.6 Verbal Behavior Non-Example #3
Squirting lemon juice into someone’s mouth to get them to salivate is also not verbal behavior because the listener’s action (salivation), although an example of mediated reinforcement, is not specifically trained in order to reinforce speakers.
Verbal Behavior
Behavior that has the following features:
It is established and maintained by reinforcement
The reinforcement is mediated by another person
The other person’s action that results in reinforcement must have been specifically trained in order to reinforce speakers
The topography of the behavior: which muscles are used in making the response
Dynamic characteristics of the response: speed, intensity, repetition
Verbal or non-verbal stimulus
Stimulus mode: auditory, visual, etc.
Reinforcement features
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