Skinner’s seminal work on verbal behavior provides profound insights into language acquisition and its gradual wane, especially in cognitive disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and aphasia (Cooper et al., 2020). This gradual regression isn’t just an abstract concept but a heart-wrenching reality for families witnessing their loved one’s descent into the clutches of dementia. My maternal grandmother, who lived to the age of 98, was the epitome of strength and resilience.
A devout Christian, she introduced our entire family to the faith, leading by example with her unwavering faith in Jesus. In her prime, she was a sharp-witted, independent woman, working diligently in domestic roles till the age of 90. With only two daughters, my mother Cal and my aunt Marie, the bonds between them were unbreakable. Her curiosity was evident in how she frequently asked about the weather or whether Marie had called. Such repetitive inquiries, often disconnected from immediate contexts, became more prominent as the years passed.
However, the radiant image of this independent woman gradually began to blur as dementia took hold of her cognitive abilities. Cooper et al. (2020) observed how verbal repertoires can deteriorate profoundly under such conditions. In her final years, witnessing her revert to an infantile state, needing round-the-clock care, was heartrending. The keen mind, which once effortlessly managed household chores and maintained strong interpersonal relationships, was now struggling with the most basic verbal interactions.
This personal experience mirrors Skinner’s (1957) observations, in which he points out that as cognitive faculties diminish, the intricacies of language and verbal behavior are among the first to be impacted. The once-rich tapestry of our linguistic interactions becomes threadbare, revealing the vulnerability of our cognitive structures. While scientific literature provides the scaffolding to understand these cognitive declines, it is the personal experiences, like my grandmother’s, that breathe life into these narratives, painting a poignant picture of love, loss, and resilience in the face of debilitating cognitive disorders.
Reference
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis. Pearson UK.