May 20, 2016

May 20, 2016

Written by Maximus Peperkamp, M.S. Verbal Engineer

Dear Reader,

It may not be apparent to you, but the reason we don’t have a more scientific way of communicating is because we have not more consistently looked into the two response classes of our vocal verbal behavior: Sound Verbal Behavior (SVB) and Noxious Verbal Behavior (NVB). We have occasionally wondered   about why human beings everywhere keep having so many communication problems, but we have become involved in all sorts of negatively reinforced activities that have become the distraction from and the cover up of our many unresolved relationship problems. For those who are not familiar with the term negative reinforcement, it should be stated this term has led to much confusion. Negative reinforcement occurs when something already present is removed as a result of our behavior, thus creating a favorable outcome. For example, a student procrastinates by watching TV instead of doing his homework. TV watching or procrastination behavior is said to be negatively reinforced, increased in response rate. By watching TV, the student is temporarily relieved from doing his homework. Stated differently, because TV watching removes something unpleasant (doing homework) it is negatively reinforced, that is, it is more likely to occur in the future. Another way of thinking of about negative reinforcement is by thinking of it in terms of subtraction. For instance, the use anti-biotics is negatively reinforced when such medication takes away or subtracts the infection. As we don’t know about the SVB/NVB distinction, we don’t realize how much NVB is in fact our failed attempt to get away from NVB. Many misunderstandings can be solved with the SVB/NVB distinction. For instance, it is often said that people who are harsh and rude fear being open and vulnerable, but this is not true. In terms of the SVB/NVB distinction, those with NVB don’t fear those with SVB at all. However, the opposite is true: those with SVB fear those with NVB. Their fear of NVB makes it possible for them to have SVB. In SVB there is no fear as it involves the absence of aversive stimulation.