The concept of emotional intelligence has dominated leadership and organizational development discourse for decades. While it represented a meaningful advancement beyond rigid IQ-based models of human performance, emotional intelligence as traditionally conceptualized has significant limitations from a behavior analytic perspective.
Provider: BehaviorLive
Take This Course →Including ethics, supervision, and topics like this one. New live CEU every Wednesday.
Join Free →Emotional intelligence was a necessary pivot—a move from IQ-based models to a more nuanced understanding of how emotions shape action. But emotional intelligence, while useful, isn't backed by behavioral science. It raises awareness, yes—but it rarely changes behavior. And insight without action? That's where growth stalls. Radical behaviorism offers a different lens. It recognizes emotions as private events—real, measurable, and influenced by environmental contingencies. But let's not pretend we're exempt. Behavior analysts are subject to the same laws of behavior as everyone else. The difference is, we possess the most powerful, evidence-based toolbox on the planet for driving meaningful change—for others and for ourselves. Adaptive Intelligence leverages this science to build better leaders, stronger teams, and more values-driven organizations. Grounded in behavior analysis and evolutionary science, this framework helps professionals align daily actions with long-term values, overcome internal and external barriers, and produce consistent, measurable outcomes. Central to this process is the Behavior Alignment Compass—a six-step model for clarifying values, identifying escape behaviors, and building patterns of behavior that lead to sustained success. In this session, behavior analysts will explore how to: Move beyond emotional awareness and into actionable behavior change.Apply the science of behavior to their own leadership, not just their clients' behavior.Engineer adaptive environments that promote engagement, accountability, and behavioral adaptability. This talk is a call to action: to stop treating our science as something we deliver and start using it to transform how we live, lead, and perform. If you're ready to lead and supervise with intention and create lasting impact, Adaptive Intelligence is the next step.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1.5 | Ethics |
Dr. Paul Gavoni is one of the most prolific disseminators of behavior analysis in the world, with millions of views on his content each year. He’s the author of 14 #1 best-selling books, including a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, and his no-nonsense, humor-laced style challenges broken systems with science-based solutions that work. Specializing in OBM, his work has influenced organizations across five continents and has been featured in top-rated television shows, top-ranked podcasts,, and university programs around the globe. A former Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion and widely known in MMA as Coach Paulie Gloves, he brings nearly 30 years of experience improving performance across education, human services, business, and combat sports.Dr. Gavoni is the Founder of Heart & Science International, Co-Founder of The Behavioral Toolbox, and Director at the Professional Crisis Management Association.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
231 research articles with practitioner takeaways
You earn CEUs from a dozen different places. Upload any certificate — from here, your employer, conferences, wherever — and always know exactly where you stand. Learning, Ethics, Supervision, all handled.
No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.