Skinner's Verbal Behavior Therapy

Thus, the theory of Verbal Behavior Therapy is used to analyze both appropriate and inappropriate communication. Most people with autism are trying to communicate. However their verbal behavior is inappropriate. For example a child may scream for a toy instead of saying “please give me the toy.” The goal of the behavior analyst using VB is to replace inappropriate verbal behaviors with appropriate ones and to teach additional verbal behaviors.

Skinner's Verbal Behavior Therapy defines words by their function and not just their sound since the same word can have different functions based on why it is being said. These different functions are broken down within the theory of verbal behavior into different classifications of language. Some of these classifications are:

Mands: attempts to request or obtain something. For example, when the child says”toy” to request a toy it is a “mand.”
Echoic: vocal imitation. For example when the child hears “hello Bob” he says, “hello Bob.”
Tacts: labels. For example, when the child says “toy” while pointing a picture of a toy.
Intraverbal: conversational or social, language. Intraverbals allow children to discuss something that isn't present. For example, when prompted the child finishes the sentence, “I'm playing with the.. “toy.” Intraverbals also include responses to questions Who? What? When? Where? Why?.

Many children with autism lack responses in the different classes of language. They may have lots of words in one category (e.g. “tact”) but not in other categories (e.g. “intraverbal” or “mand”). Verbal Behavior Therapy practitioners believe poor abilities in different classes of language limit the ability of a child to have conversations with others.

VB Program Materials

For more information visit the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies.