September 7, 2016

September 7, 2016 

Written by Maximus Peperkamp, M.S. Verbal Engineer

Dear Reader,

This is my eleventh response to “Verbal behavior in clinical context: behavior analysis methodological contributions” by Zamignani and Meyer (2007). In this paper the authors discuss different types of analyses. 

My analysis is of course not included, but their work can bring the reader's attention to Sound Verbal Behavior (SVB) and Noxious Verbal Behavior (NVB), two universal response classes which characterize the expression and maintenance of positive and negative emotions.

Catania (1999) has said “The analysis of more complex patterns can involve the identification of relationships between events distant in time or response classes of a superior order” but he doesn’t mention that SVB is necessary for such analysis as NVB makes it impossible.

The problem with analysis of more complex patterns of behavior is not that they are caused by events that are “distant in time or response classes of a superior order”. Due to the high frequency of NVB and the low frequency of SVB it is impossible to talk about these matters.

NVB cannot identify more complex patterns as it fixates on verbal categories. Even “explanations with emphasis in response-consequence relationships” cannot make the researcher aware of the SVB/NVB distinction. What is required is participation in the conversation.

The researcher or therapist needs to be reinforced for listening to him or herself rather than for listening to somebody else. This self-listening makes a different kind of other-listening possible which sets the stage for SVB, which then will make different data available.

“The clinic is a privileged environment for the development of research. In this situation we have access to verbal report data that, in another situation, would be very difficult to access (Luna, 1997).”

For therapy to be effective there must be a high rate of SVB and a low rate of NVB. Researchers must also be therapists who capitalize on the fact that the clinic situation can create a high probability for SVB.