What is typically the reinforcement for a mand?

The reinforcement for a mand is typically a tangible item. A mand is a type of verbal operant where a speaker requests or demands something they want or need, and the response is usually the provision of that item or service requested. This fulfills the immediate need of the speaker, thus acting as reinforcement for using the mand.

When someone mands for something, they are directly communicating their desire, which sets the stage for the reinforcement to be related to a specific object or service that can be delivered. This is why tangible items, such as toys, snacks, or other physical objects, are the primary reinforcers for mands.

While social approval and information might provide reinforcement in other contexts, they do not specifically align with the function of a mand, which is centered around obtaining something concrete. Silence does not serve as reinforcement in this context either, as it does not fulfill the speaker's request, and thus does not motivate the speaker to mand again.