What type of verbal operant involves requesting or commanding that is controlled by a motivating operation?

The type of verbal operant that involves requesting or commanding and is specifically controlled by a motivating operation is the mand. In behavioral terms, a mand is defined as a verbal behavior that is used to request something when the speaker is in a state of deprivation or has a certain need or desire. The presence of a motivating operation enhances the value of the item being requested, which may include states such as hunger or thirst.

For example, if a child is thirsty and asks for water, that request is a mand because it is directly influenced by their current need for hydration. The mand is essential for understanding the relationship between a person's environment and their verbal behavior, as it demonstrates how motivation can evoke specific communicative actions.

Other verbal operants such as tact, intraverbal, and emotive do not necessarily involve requests driven by motivational states. A tact involves labeling or identifying objects, actions, or events and is not controlled by the same motivational factors that drive mands. Intraverbals involve responding to the verbal behavior of others without direct control by a motivating operation, and emotive behaviors express emotions or feelings rather than making requests.