Which verbal operant would be used for asking for assistance?

The verbal operant that is used for asking for assistance is the mand. Mands are requests made by an individual to get something they want or need, which in this context refers to requesting help or assistance from others. This form of communication is essential as it is driven by the individual's motivation or needs at that moment.

In this scenario, when someone asks for assistance, they are expressing a desire or need, which is the hallmark of a mand. This interaction indicates that the individual is specifically seeking help, and thus this form of verbal behavior is categorized as a mand.

The other operants serve different functions. Tacts refer to labeling or describing the environment, which does not involve requesting help. Intraverbals are used in conversational exchanges where one person responds to another’s verbal behavior but do not directly involve requests. Echoics involve repeating words or phrases spoken by someone else without seeking something in return. Therefore, the motivation behind asking for assistance aligns directly with the characteristics of mands.