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

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

Answer: (D)

Echoic behavior is a verbal operant defined by repeating spoken language exactly as it is heard. The key features are point-to-point correspondence (each part of the spoken prompt is echoed by a matching part of the response) and formal similarity (both stimulus and response are in the same verbal modality, produced vocally). So when a person repeats the exact words they heard, that is an echoic.

Tacting involves labeling or describing nonverbal or environmental stimuli, not repeating spoken words. Intraverbal is a response to a verbal stimulus that doesn’t require matching the exact form of the prompt. Mand is a request influenced by a motivating operation, not necessarily mirroring the spoken input.