Which verbal operant is evoked by a nonverbal stimulus and involves labeling or describing objects, actions, or events?

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

Answer: (B)

Tact is a verbal operant that is evoked by a nonverbal stimulus and used to label or describe objects, actions, or events. When you see something and say its name or describe it—like seeing a dog and saying “dog” or pointing to a chair and saying “chair”—you’re tacting. The response is under the control of the nonverbal stimulus and is reinforced by social consequences, such as praise or attention.

Echoic would involve repeating something you heard, driven by a verbal stimulus and matching the exact sounds. Intraverbal involves speaking about things in a conversational way or answering questions where the stimulus is not a direct nonverbal prompt. A mand is a request driven by a motivating consequence (an MO), such as asking for water because you’re thirsty.