Which verbal operant has point-to-point correspondence and formal similarity with a spoken stimulus?

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

Answer: (C)

Echoic behavior is defined by repeating spoken language with exact form. Point-to-point correspondence means each unit of the response matches a corresponding unit of the spoken stimulus in the same order and timing. Formal similarity means the response is in the same modality and mirrors the stimulus in form. In an echoic, hearing a word or sound and repeating it back demonstrates this direct imitation: the spoken stimulus and the response are the same word or sound produced in the same modality.

For example, if someone says “cookie,” and you say “cookie” in return, your response matches the stimulus in both content and modality. This is what distinguishes the echoic from other verbal operants: a tact labels a nonverbal stimulus, an intraverbal responds to a verbal stimulus but not by echoing the exact form, and a mand is a request driven by a motivation, not a direct imitation of the spoken cue.