EFFECTS OF INSTRUCTIONS, ELICITATIONS, AND REINFORCEMENTS IN THE MANIPULATION OF AFFECTIVE VERBAL BEHAVIOR.

BANDURA HAS SUGGESTED THAT SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS TO EMIT A VERBAL OPERANT WOULD BE SUPERIOR TO THE USUAL REINFORCEMENT CONTINGENCY PROCEDURE IN INCREASING VERBAL RESPONSE RATE. THE RESULTS FOR 56 FEMALE AND 14 MALE UNDERGRADUATES INDICATE THAT THE INSTRUCTION GROUPS OF SS ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES FOR BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL WORDS THAN THE REINFORCEMENT GROUPS SUPPORTING BANDURA'S PREDICTION. THE ELICITATION GROUP ALSO EXCEEDED THE REINFORCEMENT GROUP IN THE EMISSION OF NEGATIVE AFFECT WORDS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT VERBAL BEHAVIOR CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY MANIPULATED BY PROCEDURES OTHER THAN THE USUAL VERBAL CONDITIONING METHODS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)