Methodologies for Effective Treatment: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Verbal Behavior

Verbal Behavior Therapy teaches communication using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and the theories of behaviorist B.F. Skinner. By design, Verbal Behavior Therapy motivates a child, adolescent or adult to learn language by connecting words with their purposes. The student learns that words can help obtain desired objects or other results.

Therapy avoids focusing on words as mere labels (cat, car, etc.) Rather, the student learns how to use language to make requests and communicate ideas. To put it another way, this intervention focuses on understanding why we use words.

In his book Verbal Behavior, Skinner classified language into types, or “operants.” Each has a different function. Verbal Behavior Therapy focuses on four word types. They are:

  • Mand. A request. Example: “Cookie,” to ask for a cookie.
  • Tact. A comment used to share an experience or draw attention. Example: “airplane” to point out an airplane.
  • Intraverbal. A word used to answer a question or otherwise respond. Example: Where do you go to school? “Castle Park Elementary.”
  • Echoic. A repeated, or echoed, word. Example: "Cookie?" “Cookie!” (important as the student needs to imitate to learn)



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