B. F. Skinner: The writer and his definition of verbal behavior

Abstract

Skinner's definition of verbal behavior, with its brief and refined versions, has recently become a point of controversy among behavior analysts. Some of the arguments presented in this controversy might be based on a misreading of Skinner's (1957a) writings. An examination of Skinner's correspondence with editors of scientific journals shows his sophisticated mastery of English and his knowledge of contemporary approaches of linguistics, and might help to settle the meaning of the passages involved in the controversy. A more precise definition of verbal behavior, deduced from Skinner's distinction between verbal and nonverbal operants, is suggested, and a possible reason why Skinner did not define verbal behavior in the terms proposed by this alternative definition is discussed. The alternative definition is more compatible with a functional approach to behavior and highlights what is specific to verbal behavior by pointing to the conventions of the verbal community. Some possible consequences of adopting this alternative definition are described.

The Importance of Form in Skinner’s Analysis of Verbal Behavior and a Further Step

“…Passos does a fine job clarifying this fuzzy issue of inclusion by blending in-depth scholarship into linguistics and into Skinner's science with an incisive analysis of his writing style. Passos (2012) and I came to the same conclusion: that more must be covered beyond Skinner's definition and analysis of verbal behavior if such an analysis is to encompass what is distinct to the language activity of homo sapiens. This ''more'' is the inclusion of the community's conventional consequencing of stipulated action properties, defined by and large by their form or topography.…”

“…But though they may differ fastidiously in particulars, behaviorologists state unequivocally that the science of behaviorology is founded upon and operates within the parametric dimensions of the examination of behavior as specified by Skinner. The science covers all behavior in the animal kingdom, of whatever form and under whichever controls selected by consequences (Skinner 1969(Skinner /2012(Skinner , 1987. Contingent controls embody the pairing of values of an independent variable to values of a dependent variable, and show themselves by their functional relation to an action form.…”

“…224-226) restricts the too broad coverage of the earlier working one. Passos (2012) makes the point that by how Skinner (1957, p. 108) wrote his footnote allowing for mediational shaping of infrahuman action, he restricts tightly the too broad inclusion of infrahuman behavior within the category of verbal behavior. She further points out that he explicitly stated ''in The Behavior of Organisms (1938Organisms ( / 1991) that pressing the level by the rat is not like verbal behavior …'' (p. 121).…”

O Ensino de Leitura em Bloomfield e na Análise do Comportamento

“…Entretanto, trata-se de um caso especial de comportamento operante, porque a apresentação (ou remoção) dos estímulos consequentes que o estabelecem e mantêm não decorre diretamente da ação do indivíduo sobre o ambiente não humano, mas decorre da mediação de um ouvinte especialmente treinado em práticas específicas de uma comunidade verbal (Skinner, 1957(Skinner, /1992. A apresentação das consequências pelo ouvinte depende de o comportamento do falante apresentar as convenções vigentes na comunidade verbal, principalmente o conjunto de convenções que os linguistas denominam língua (Passos, 2012). Skinner (1957Skinner ( /1992 utilizou o termo textual para se referir ao componente mais básico do comportamento de ler, o responder verbal vocal sob controle de estímulos textuais (textos escritos/impressos), em que há correspondência ponto a ponto entre as unidades do estímulo e as unidades da resposta 12 (pp.…”

A produção da ironia verbal: o que controla o comportamento verbal do humorista profissional?

“…Simonassi & Cameschi, 2003). O primeiro efeito do comportamento verbal é sobre ouvintes (ou leitores) qualificados, ou seja, que fazem parte da comunidade verbal do falante e que, treinados por ela, respondem adequadamente ao falante (Passos, 2012;Skinner, 1957). Por essa razão, o verbal é um comportamento mediado, mesmo quando o falante, como ouvinte, ouve a si mesmo.…”