The relation between verbal and non-verbal behavior change

Abstract

Much of the theory and practice of clinical psychology and of learning theory approaches to psychotherapy assumes that changes in verbal behavior lead to corresponding changes in non-verbal behavior. However, little attention has been directed toward securing experimental support for that assumption or for the equally plausible assumption that changes in non-verbal behavior produce changes in the corresponding verbal behavior. The present study was undertaken to investigate this relationship. Two non-social, adolescent, institutionalized retarded girls were the subjects. Base operant levels of social behavior were recorded in a controlled and naturalistic setting. Base operant frequency of statements concerning social behavior were derived in a structured interview setting. One S was reinforced for initiating social behavior in the structured setting. The resultant increases generalized to her verbal behavior, as revealed by changes in the interview setting. An increase was also evident in the naturalistic setting. The second S was reinforced for emitting statements of social behavior in a series of interviews. A verbal conditioning effect was obtained ; however, there was no generalization to her behavior in the structured or the naturalistic setting. Implications for theoretical conceptions of the relationship between verbal and non-verbal behavior change are discussed.