The question of whether shaming changes behavior, and if so through what behavioral mechanisms, represents one of the more uncomfortable intersections of behavioral science and ethical practice. For Board Certified Behavior Analysts, this topic demands careful analysis because shaming as a behavior change strategy exists both in everyday social interactions and, more disturbingly, in some professional contexts where it may be employed deliberately or inadvertently by practitioners.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Women in Behavior Analysis
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Join Free →This professional panel, designed for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) seeking ethics continuing education units (CEUs), delves into the complex and controversial topic of shaming as a behavior change strategy. The practice of shaming individuals to modify their behavior has generated considerable debate within the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and the broader ethical landscape. This panel discussion aims to explore the ethical implications and behavioral science principles associated with shaming.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Ethics |
| COA | 1 | — |
Amanda “Mandy” Ralston, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, is a serial founder and CEO with more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of applied behavior analysis, autism services, and technology-driven innovation. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of KidsChoice Therapy, an Oklahoma-based provider of autism and pediatric therapy services, where she leads clinical, operational, and growth strategy following a recent investment partnership.As founder and CEO of NonBinary Solutions, Ralston spearheads the development of Clinical Decision Support Systems that help standardize how clinicians make treatment decisions while preserving their autonomy, with a focus on quality of life, outcomes, and neurodiversity-informed care. Across her career, she has built and scaled multiple ABA organizations serving hundreds of families and schools, earning recognition from the U.S. Small Business Administration and being honored as an Autism Innovator for her contributions to the field.A sought-after international thought leader, Ralston delivers immersive workshops and keynotes for academic institutions, executive teams, and creative communities, using playful, neurodiversity-affirming engagement to catalyze cognitive flexibility, collaboration, and innovation. She has served as a subject matter expert on global panels focused on ethics, outcomes, and practice in behavior analysis and continues to advise founders, funders, and providers on building sustainable, equity-centered autism and behavioral health services.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
252 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.