November 9, 2014

November 9, 2014

Written by Maximus Peperkamp, M.S. Verbal Behaviorist

Dear Reader, 

 

If our interactions address and solve our problems, they would increase, but if our interactions are such, that we can’t address our problems, let alone solve them, if, in other words, the consequences of our interactions are not reinforcing, but punishing, then they are less likely to occur. Thus, most of what goes on in the name of our spoken communication is not really spoken communication.  

The noise that replaces and derails authentic dialogue is a form of counter control, which this author has called Noxious Verbal Behavior (NVB). NVB is under control of aversive antecedent stimuli. However, its opposite, Sound Verbal Behavior (SVB), is under control of reinforcing postcedent variables. NVB is mainly respondent, while SVB is mainly operant. Certainly, there are operant aspects about NVB and there are respondent aspects about SVB, but, generally speaking, NVB is under stimulus control of coercive, anti-social verbalizers, while SVB is increased and maintained by mutuality-reinforcing, sensitive verbalizers. NVB is uni-directional and monologic, but SVB is bi-directional and dialogic. In NVB we dis-regulate each other, but in SVB we co-regulate each other. In NVB we talk at each other, but in SVB we talk with each other.

Our speaking voice is an unconditioned stimulus. Its reinforcing or punishing effect doesn’t depend on prior conditioning. A baby will generally respond positively to SVB, but negatively to NVB.  In NVB we sound completely different than in SVB. The voice we have in NVB is called Voice I and the voice we have in SVB is called Voice II. Although we make many sounds, biologically speaking, we have only two voices: Voice I expresses negative emotions, such as impatience, anger, fear, jealousy and stress and Voice II expresses positive emotions, such as joy, kindness, love, play and calmness. In spoken communication, we speak with Voice I or Voice II. Most conversations happen with Voice I. Only sometimes can we use Voice II. The majority of people speaks with Voice I and seldom with Voice II, whereas only a small minority speaks with Voice II a little bit more often. On the whole, Voice I can be heard everywhere, but Voice II is pretty rare.  

Acookie or money are tangible reinforcers, but the sound of our voice is a fleeting, but powerful reinforcer. When children are praised by parents or students are accepted by peers, they are verbally and non-verbally reinforced. Social approval or rejection is audible in the sound of our voice.