The field of applied behavior analysis is experiencing a period of rapid evolution that has generated both excitement and anxiety among practitioners. New terms and approaches appear with increasing frequency: assent-based practice, compassionate care, trauma-informed ABA, neurodiversity-affirming ABA, social justice in behavior analysis, and what some call today's ABA.
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Join Free →The field of applied behavior analysis is currently undergoing a rapid evolution. New movements within ABA and new terms for different approaches seem to be appearing constantly. Some are concerned that these rapid changes are fads, motivated by social approval, or marketing schemes, motivated by financial motives. This presentation will review some of the older historical movements within the ABA field and consider the newer developments of the last 5-10 years, including assent-based practice, compassionate care, trauma-informed care, "today's ABA," neurodiversity-affirming ABA, social justice-oriented ABA, and acceptance and commitment training, within historical perspective. We will make the case that common threads unite many of the contemporary changes in ABA and we will argue that something resembling a historical shift is currently underway. We will discuss the positive ethical implications of many of these changes, as well as some of the practical and conceptual challenges that any rapid, large-scale change presents. We will discuss strategies for taking a functional analytic approach to understanding our own behavior when we adopt new developments in ABA, as well as when we talk about these new perspectives, especially in public forums, such as social media. Overall, this presentation will make the case that 2025 is a pivotal moment in the historical development of the field of ABA. We will make the case that the field is evolving toward greater human dignity and social justice, and will also require a greater deal of commitment and work from all of us to ensure the continued integrity of our field. Speaker Bio: Dr. Jonathan Tarbox is the Co-Founder and Program Director of the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of Southern California, as well as Director of Research at FirstSteps for Kids. Dr. Tarbox is the past Editor-in-Chief of the journal Behavior Analysis in Practice, a Board Member of the ABA Task Force to Eradicate Social Injustice, and was a founding member of the Advisory Board of the Women in Behavior Analysis (WIBA) conference. He has published five books on applied behavior analysis and autism treatment, is the Series Editor of the Elsevier book series Critical Specialties in Treating Autism and Other Behavioral Challenges, and an author of over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters in scientific texts. His research focuses on behavioral interventions for teaching complex skills, Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), and applications of applied behavior analysis to issues of diversity and social justice. Dr. Tarbox is proud to have multiple neurodivergent family members and is working hard to become a more effective ally to the Autistic community.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Ethics |
| COA | 1 | — |
Dr. Jonathan Tarbox is the Co-Founder and Program Director of the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of Southern California, as well as Director of Research at FirstSteps for Kids. Dr. Tarbox is the past Editor-in-Chief of the journal Behavior Analysis in Practice, and a past founding member of the Advisory Board of the Women in Behavior Analysis (WIBA) conference. He has published five books on applied behavior analysis and autism treatment, is the Series Editor of the Elsevier book series Critical Specialties in Treating Autism and Other Behavioral Challenges, and an author of over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters in scientific texts. His research focuses on behavioral interventions for teaching complex skills to individuals with autism, Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), and applications of applied behavior analysis to issues of diversity and social justice. Dr. Tarbox is proud to have multiple neurodivergent family members and is working hard to become a better ally to the Autistic community.
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
239 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.