Pseudoscientific approaches to autism treatment persist despite decades of empirical evidence demonstrating their ineffectiveness. Facilitated communication, rapid prompting method, various biomedical interventions without scientific support, and other discredited approaches continue to attract families seeking help for their loved ones.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Women in Behavior Analysis
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Join Free →Pseudoscientific approaches to autism treatment, such as facilitated communication, persist despite overwhelming scientific evidence debunking their effectiveness. This symposium explores why people—including loving and well-intentioned caregivers—believe in and defend these practices. Using a contingency analysis, we examine the reinforcing variables that maintain belief in pseudoscientific treatments, from hope and desperation to the persuasive influence of charismatic proponents. We also consider broader cultural factors, including anti-science sentiment and the appeal of magical thinking. With the rise in popularity of media like The Telepathy Tapes podcast, behavior analysts will likely encounter more questions about these controversial approaches. Dismissing these beliefs outright may alienate those we seek to support, while uncritical acceptance risks perpetuating harm. Instead, we argue for a third approach that blends empirical rigor with compassion. We must compete with pseudoscience, not just refute it, by making evidence-based approaches more accessible, engaging, and reinforcing for families. This talk will feature real-world examples, a review of relevant research, and practical guidance for practitioners. The second portion of the symposium will focus on strategies for engaging in constructive conversations about pseudoscience, emphasizing ethical and compassionate communication. Participants will leave with tools to navigate these discussions effectively, ensuring their advocacy for evidence-based practice is persuasive and respectful.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Ethics |
| COA | 1 | — |
Chata A. Dickson is a Principal Researcher at The New England Center for Children and serves as Clinical Adjunct Faculty in the graduate programs in Behavior Analysis at Western New England University. Dr. Dickson earned a doctoral degree in Psychology with a specialization in Behavior Analysis from West Virginia University and holds Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts credentials. Her research and clinical work have been presented internationally and at numerous conferences, and she regularly conducts workshops for professionals in behavior analysis and education. Dr. Dickson's research interests focus on effective methods for teaching individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Specifically, she is interested in research that examines instructional technology, stimulus control and generalization, and effects of learning history. Her work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals related to autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavior analysis.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 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.