Mand

What is a Mand?

A mand is one of B.F. Skinner’s verbal operants that typically results in the speaker obtaining the item that was spoken. Mands can be thought of as commands or demands, in that a person is commanding or demanding for something. When a person emits a mand the item that is requested is typically not in sight of the speaker but is later given to the speaker by the listener. Mands are most often spoken during a time of deprivation (someone is thirsty so they request something to drink) and/or avoiding an aversive situation (asking someone to stop making noise). In addition, mands state what a person does and does not want (motivating operations). They will typically reoccur depending on past experiences (asking for a cookie and receiving it).