Mand
Function: Request. The speaker benefits directly. Controlling variable: Motivating operation (EO). Consequence: Specific reinforcement. Example: A child says "water" when thirsty and receives water. Key feature: The form of the response specifies its reinforcer.
Tact
Function: Label. The speaker contacts a nonverbal stimulus. Controlling variable: Nonverbal stimulus (object, event, property). Consequence: Generalized conditioned reinforcement. Example: A child sees a dog and says "dog." Key feature: The response has point-to-point correspondence with the nonverbal stimulus.
Echoic
Function: Vocal imitation. Controlling variable: Verbal stimulus (vocal). Consequence: Generalized conditioned reinforcement. Example: A therapist says "ball" and the child repeats "ball." Key feature: Point-to-point correspondence AND formal similarity with the verbal stimulus.
Intraverbal
Function: Conversational response. Controlling variable: Verbal stimulus (vocal or written). Consequence: Generalized conditioned reinforcement. Example: Someone asks "What color is the sky?" and you say "blue." Key feature: No point-to-point correspondence with the verbal stimulus.
Textual
Function: Reading aloud. Controlling variable: Written/printed text. Consequence: Generalized conditioned reinforcement. Example: A child sees the word "cat" and says "cat." Key feature: Point-to-point correspondence between written and vocal stimulus, but no formal similarity (different modalities).
Transcription
Function: Writing from dictation or copying text. Controlling variable: Vocal or written stimulus. Consequence: Generalized conditioned reinforcement. Example: A teacher says "Write your name" and the student writes their name.