December 1, 2013

December 1, 2013

Written by Maximus Peperkamp, M.S. Verbal Behaviorist

Dear Reader, 

 

The target outcome of this writing is to establish the possibility of successful human interaction. This is called Sound Verbal Behavior (SVB). As of yet SVB is only minimally available. Its proportion to Noxious Verbal Behavior (NVB) – our dominant way of interacting, which perpetuates and increases our problems, because they are inaccurately described – remained the same. Estimated by those who were capable and willing to make the distinction, the ratio SVB: NVB, is about 5:95. Only 5% represents the possibility that our communication will be successful. 

Each time human interaction succeeds, it is an all- or-nothing affair. The fact that it currently only succeeds as little as five times out of hundred, does not mean that the success of SVB is any bigger in the 10:90 ratio than in the 5:95 ratio. When the SVB rate changes to an overall more successful interaction, this does not mean  that we are individually getting better at communicating with one another. Those who are in the five percent are as successful in the 5:95 ratio as in the 10:90 ratio or the 25:75 ratio. The only real difference of the changed ratio is that successful interaction will be more often reinforced. Increase of reinforcement will enhance SVB more rapidly in those who acquired it earlier than in those who got it later. 

The all or nothing nature of human interaction is completely misunderstood. It is widely believed that we can gradually get better at interacting with each other, but nothing is further away from the reality. First of all, this view underlies our current dismal low level of success. Secondly, our obsession with problems has led to an increase instead of a decrease of unsuccessful communication. Thirdly, as long as there is nothing to reinforce our success, our successes will remain sparse. The ratio remained 5:95, because our environment wasn’t capable of reinforcing the 10:90 ratio or the 25:75 ratio. If it could, it would do so, but since it couldn’t, it didn’t. We like to believe that we can do anything if we set our mind to it. This self-centered, unscientific belief has prevented us from paying attention to our environment.Rather than trying to solve our problems, we put the horse behind the wagon. We should be looking at what goes right and give more attention to that. We need to understand and acknowledge what is required for things to go right in our interactions with one another.