What type of verbal operant is shown when a person says 'Donut please' to obtain a donut that is out of reach?

• A. Tact
• B. Echoic
• C. Mand
• D. Intraverbal

Answer: (C)

This involves a mand, a verbal operant that is controlled by a motivating operation and reinforced by obtaining the reinforcer. Because the donut is out of reach, the donut’s value increases and the person uses a request—“Donut please”—to obtain it. The consequence is the donut being provided, which strengthens this type of request in the future.

It’s not a tact, since a tact would be labeling or naming the donut based on seeing it. It’s not an echoic, because there’s no repetition of someone else’s exact words. It’s not an intraverbal, since there’s no conversation-based response to a question or verbal stimulus.