[Verbal conditioning - analysis of a paradigm].

In this paper relevant empirical studies of verbal conditioning have been analysed - one of the first examples of the behavior theory of Skinner applied to behavior therapy. Next the verbal conditioning paradigm has been critically evaluated as to: - the formation of a theory, - its consequences to the use of psychological procedures, also in regard to the significance of verbal conditioning in therapy. In conclusion we outlined the advantage of a research strategy that with the aid of categorical observation techniques determines and predicts the transition frequency of verbalizations of the patients as a function of the therapists verbalizations.