What is Verbal Behaviour

What is Verbal Behaviour (VB) Verbal Behaviour was originally proposed by Skinner (1957); the VB approach employs a functional account of language. VB teaches children to use language and communication in a functional context and uses their natural motivation to learn it. Rather than dividing language into receptive and expressive language according to a psycholinguistic model, language and communication is taught using the child’s motivation. This ensures faster learning, better retention of mastered skills, and better generalisation of mastered skills. Some basic verbal functions described in Skinner’s VB model include:  Echoic: repeating of sounds, blends, words and sentences.  Mand (from “demand”): request for items, action or information.  Tact (from “contact”): comment on what the child can hear, see, feel, taste or smell  Intraverbal: responding to conversation type questions. Verbal Behaviour is any behaviour for which the reinforce is mediated by the behaviour of another person. This does not mean that verbal behaviour needs to be vocal. At Aspire, we currently service clients who are verbal but use sign language or PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), WECS (word/text communicating system) or writing – to communicate effectively with their peers and parents. See below for examples for a few basic functions of language in a Verbal Behaviour framework.