ABSTRACT
Humans are social animals. Most of the daily life of people takes place in the company of others. An important aspect of human social behavior involves what we do with words, as in speaking, writing, signing, and gesturing. Behavior analysts use the term verbal behavior to refer to this kind of human activity. In this chapter, verbal behavior is analyzed according to the same principles of behavior that have been used throughout this book. The analysis explores the role of contingencies of reinforcement in the regulation of verbal behavior.
