Concept Definition: Mand

Important characteristics of Skinner's (1957) definition a mand:

  • A verbal response that has been reinforced with a characteristic consequence.
  • The distinguishing controlling variable is an establishing operation, in particular, any motivational variable that affects the characteristic consequence

General examples include: commands, requests, orders, prayers, questions, advise, warnings, asking permission, wishing.

Illustrative Example/Nonexample Pair #1

(The response to be analyzed is in bold text.)

Nonexample

John is given a bowl of soup with a funny looking spoon. He says "spoon," and his mother replies "Yes John, that is a spoon." As a result, John is more likely to say the same thing under similar conditions in the future.

Example

John is given a bowl of soup without a spoon. He says "spoon" and his mother brings him one. As a result, John is more likely to say the same thing under similar conditions in the future.

Analysis

The first item is not an example of a mand. The speaker is John. He did something (said "spoon") and his behavior produced a reinforcing consequence (confirmation). We classify his behavior as verbal because its reinforcing consequence was mediated by a listener (his mom). However, his behavior was likely under the control of a nonverbal SD (the funny looking spoon) rather than any particular establishing operation related to the spoon.

The second item is an example of a mand. Again, the speaker is John. He did something (said "spoon") and his behavior produced a reinforcing consequence (a spoon). We classify his behavior as verbal because its reinforcing consequence was mediated by a listener (his mom). In this case, his behavior was likely under the control of an establishing operation (the soup minus spoon condition), the defining feature of a mand. This establishing operation temporarily enhanced the effectiveness of a spoon as an reinforcer and brought to strength responses ( saying "spoon") that typically resulted in being given a spoon in the past.