Mand: Verbal Operant Analysis

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Mand is a verbal operant in which the speaker asks/requests for what he/she needs or wants (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007; Emery, 2017). An example of a mand would be asking for directions when lost. It is also is a verbal operant for which the form of the response is under the functional control of motivating operations (MO) and specific reinforcements. An example of this would be hunger. Hunger will evoke behaviors with effective reinforcement such as mand popcorn if the behavior has produced popcorn in the past. Therefore mand is a verbal operant, which is evoked by the MO or the antecedent and is reinforced by the specified stimulus or the consequence. The particular reinforcement that strengthens a mand is related to the relevant MO. If …show more content…

All of these would be mands for physical contact based on the functional relations that exist among the MO, the response, and the reinforcement. The response alone cannot be the only classification of the mand. Mands are important for the early development of language and for everyday communication of children and adults (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007; Emery, 2017). Children first acquire the verbal operant mand. Early mands occur in the form of different kinds of cries when a child is tired, hungry, afraid, cold, in pain, and wants attention, etc. As children grow up, they replace crying with words and other signs to interact. Manding allows children to control the reinforcers they are given and establishes a listener speaker foundation that is vital for verbal development. Mand is the only verbal behavior that benefits the speaker. Mands get the speaker reinforcers (attention, toys, edibles etc.). Because of specific reinforcing, mands become a strong form of verbal behavior. Reinforcement often satisfies a deprivation or removes aversive stimulus. Young children engage in a lot of manding due to its effects on …show more content…

If verbal behavior is not taught then it will be difficult to identify which need an individual is requesting to be met and interacting with the individual to get their need met would be very difficult. As humans we socialize and communicate with others through verbal communication. Teaching verbal behaviors allows for the verbal communication to occur and ensures people are safe and successful academically, professionally and in their social environments. Teaching verbal behaviors allows one to be independent and permits an open environment (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007; Emery,

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