Toward a Science of Verbal Behavior: Progress and Challenges‪.‬

A fully -developed science of verbal behavior is of the greatest priority but has been slow to develop within behavior analysis. Nevertheless, progress continues to be made in a number of areas, especially in the acquisition of verbal repertoires and in the experimental analysis of "symbolic" functions. Several other areas of research await further development, and formidable methodological challenges await the larger development of the verbal field, as the powerful and direct methods of behavior analysis confront the subtle and awesome complexity of human verbal interactions. The challenge must be faced, however, as behavior analysis actualizes its potential as a complete and comprehensive human science, and makes what would be its greatest contribution to the future of humankind. **********