Which verbal operant involves requesting or commanding under the control of a motivating operation and reinforced by a specific reinforcer?

Which verbal operant involves requesting or commanding under the control of a motivating operation and reinforced by a specific reinforcer?

• A. Echoic
• B. Tact
• C. Mand
• D. Intraverbal

Answer: (C)

A mand is a verbal operant where a person requests or commands something under the influence of a motivating operation and is reinforced by the specific item or outcome requested. The motivating operation makes the reinforcer more valuable in that moment (for example, being deprived of water increases the value of a drink). When you hear someone say “water” to get water, that request is directly reinforced by obtaining water—the actual reinforcer the MO signals is needed. This contrasts with echoic, which is repeating what is heard and reinforced by social or other reinforcement; tact, which is labeling objects or events; and intraverbal, which involves talking about topics not tied to a specific present stimulus. So, the described behavior is a mand.

A mand is a verbal operant where a person requests or commands something under the influence of a motivating operation and is reinforced by the specific item or outcome requested. The motivating operation makes the reinforcer more valuable in that moment (for example, being deprived of water increases the value of a drink). When you hear someone say “water” to get water, that request is directly reinforced by obtaining water—the actual reinforcer the MO signals is needed. This contrasts with echoic, which is repeating what is heard and reinforced by social or other reinforcement; tact, which is labeling objects or events; and intraverbal, which involves talking about topics not tied to a specific present stimulus. So, the described behavior is a mand.