Behavior analysis has, from its earliest theoretical formulations, carried a broader ambition than individual-level intervention. B.F.
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Join Free →For the past seven decades, beginning with B.F. Skinner, behavior analysts have asserted that behavior science could guide efforts to intervene in such challenges across system levels. This has proven largely true at personal and interpersonal levels, although our research findings still are not effectively applied in practice in most cases—so there is still much work to do there. Work being done at community and public policy levels has been much more limited, although what has been done has been encouraging. Contemporary human societies, however, currently face a number of intractable and corrosive struggles grounded in social injustice, collective biases and associated violence, human rights violations, the growth of authoritarianism, and marginalization of entire cultural, racialized, and oppressed groups (all of which also contribute to climate change, perhaps our most serious global concern). Seriously challenging such injustice is always costly (sometimes in lives), and often only marginally effective—or even counterproductive. In this presentation, the author will discuss recent behavioral systems science scholarship that holds promise for contributing to more effective and efficient strategies for social action and nonviolent resistance (while fully recognizing that challenging serious injustice is always costly). Particular attention will be paid in the presentation to "constructional" options that may progressively shape more just societies, while respectfully accompanying those who are struggling.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 1 | — |
Mark Mattaini, DSW, ACSW, is president of the Association for Behavior Analysis: International, and holds an emeritus appointment at Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was previously director of the doctoral program. He has chaired 25 dissertations related to responses to social issues. Most of his PhD graduates are engaged in research and practice with marginalized populations, including those victimized by-and perpetrating-violence, and in developing evidence-guided supports for young people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion. Dr. Mattaini is author or editor of 13 books, two of the most recent being Strategic Nonviolent Power: The Science of Satyagraha, and Leadership for Cultural Change: Managing Future Well-Being, as well as numerous other publications. Editor of the interdisciplinary journal Behavior and Social Issues since 2001, Dr. Mattaini has served on the editorial boards of multiple journals in behavior analysis and social work, and has been a long-time member of the Board of Planners for Behaviorists for Social Responsibility. He has developed, implemented, and researched behavioral strategies for individual, family, organizational, community and policy level intervention, increasingly emphasizing advocacy, accompaniment, and activism in recent years. Consistent with that emphasis, his recent scholarship has focused
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
224 research articles with practitioner takeaways
200 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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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.