Applied Behavior Analysis trends?

Question

According to recent research, trends in ABA are moving towards a social-cognitive approach or inclusion of the consideration of mind, thought, and internal behavior... More of how thoughts influence behavior and how to treat accordingly.

Oxymoron or realistic, functional application? A science that prides itself on treating observeable behavior now lending itself to the science of the mind, including mental illness, stress, anxiety, history...

I know ABA currently accounts for condition of mind when evaluating behavior insofar as it accounts for EO, satiation, etc, but the research has never dedicated itself to such an internal evaluation of behavior.

Thoughts?

Answer 1

Radical behaviorism (Skinner's behaviorism) has always considered thoughts and internal states an important dependent variable to study. Skinner states that internal behavior is another form of behavior that is subject to the same laws of any other behavior. The reason it is not studies more empirically is because the only person who can observe internal behavior is the actual person experiencing the thoughts or feelings. Skinner differentiates himself from other branches in psychology in that he states we cannot directly manipulate thoughts or feelings such as anxiety. We indirectly manipulate anxiety (for example) by making changes in the environment or in the person's behavior to see if such changes will increase or decrease the person's anxiety. Skinner would say we cannot directly go into a person's head and physically increase or decrease anxiety and there for is not an independent variable.. the directly manipulated factors or in the environment and are generally observable. Methodological behaviorism (Watson's behaviorism) states that all internal states cognition's are not to be studies because they cannot directly be observed. But Radical behaviorists have always considered internal states of interest it is just they need to be taken in their proper order as dependent instead of independent variables. Source(s) Source(s) O’Donohue, W., & Szymanski, J. (1996). Skinner on cognition. Journal of Behavioral Education, Vol. 6, No. 1, 35-48.

Answer 2

Read Temple Grandin's book "Animals in Translation". In it she discusses how behaviorism, which was once the pinnacle of phsychological teachings, has often overlooked the internal processes. Current ABA approaches are not purely behavioral, there is a great deal of understanding of the internala and sensory input and how it can affect the behaviors and abilities of the children using these programs. It is very hard to change an observed behavior if you can't figure out what it is occurring. Ms. Grandin applies these principles in her work with stock yards and animals, but she admits they have value in working with people on the autistic spectrum (which she is). I agree.

Answer 3

Scientists must update their thinking or retire quickly.

In 2007, only the most extreme extremists doubt that thoughts matter. The black box has been opened and everyone knows that Skinner missed something important (not to trivialize his contributions, however).