ABSTRACT
Marilla had finally shown one instance of generalized imitation. The behavior analysts breathed a sigh of relief. The behavior analysts would have to shape the vocal response; they would have to reinforce successive approximations of vocalizations. The extra reinforcement from the staff would supplement the natural reinforcement contingencies for imitation that were in the environment. In Marilla’s case, the behavior analysts added a contingency to reinforce imitation. Dicky’s verbal responses came under the control of the attendant’s spoken words, but the pictures seemed irrelevant. Though Dicky’s performance was impressive, there’s more to verbal behavior than naming pictures and objects. Being able to imitate is so important that it’s almost the first thing the people teach children with autism as they use behavior analysis to help them acquire a normal repertoire and set of values. The behavior analysts had to go out of their way to establish the imitative stimuli as conditioned reinforcers.
