Metaphysical Sources of Reinforcement matters because it changes what a BCBA notices when decisions have to hold up in case conceptualization, intervention design, staff training, and literature-informed problem solving. In Metaphysical Sources of Reinforcement, for this course, the practical stakes show up in stronger conceptual consistency and better translational decision making, not in abstract discussion alone.
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Join Free →The word metaphysics has several definitions. The earliest and simplest is after or beyond physics. Aristotle wrote his noted treatise "Physics" first and subsequently wrote "The Metaphysics." The definition that best fits this talk is "lacking form or substance." It is no exaggeration to say that behavior analysts have given metaphysics, no matter how you define it, a wide berth. In this talk, I advocate a reconsideration. I will describe six potential sources of reinforcement all of which lack form and readily apprehensible substance. This is not to say that giving them form and identifying their substance is impossible. It is merely to say that their form and substance, at present, lack operational definitions. The purpose of this talk is not to provide the definitions, although it will provide some movement towards them. The purpose of the talk is to demonstrate that behavior analysts can and will consider subject matter that affects all human beings even though it does not lend itself readily to observation and measurement. The six sources are: 1) sense of certainty and control: 2) sense of uncertainty and lack of control; 3) sense of importance or significance; 4) the experience of love, connection, and intimacy; 5) the experience of growth; 6) acts of giving beyond oneself.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
Dr. Patrick C. Friman received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. He is the current Vice President of Behavioral Health at Boys Town and a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine. He was formerly on the faculties of Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, and Creighton University Schools of Medicine. He was also formerly the Director of the Clinical Psychology Program at University of Nevada. He is a Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, in three divisions of the American Psychological Association, and of the American Board of Behavioral Psychology. He is the former Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and former President of the Association for Behavior Analysis International. He has published more than 200 scientific articles and chapters and three books. The majority of his scientific and clinical work is in Behavioral Pediatrics and Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Friman’s work in behavioral pediatrics has concentrated on the gap between primary medical care for children on one side, and referral-based clinical child psychological and psychiatric care, on the other. A secondary focus is on adolescent behavior and development. He also specializes in consultation regarding workplace issues such as motivation, dealing with difficult people, change, happiness and pathways to success.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
225 research articles with practitioner takeaways
224 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.