Behavioral economics is the application of psychological and behavioral principles towards understanding choice and decision-making, but the specific principles differ according to the school of thought. The behavioral economics most familiar to behavior analysts draws principally from the integration of microeconomic theory and operant psychology. However, there is a conceptually distinct, yet far more “mainstream” branch of behavioral economics that is primarily concerned with cognitive processes involved in decision-making and irrational choice. Behavior analysts make far less contact with this branch, but I suggest that this is a mistake. In this presentation, I will discuss several studies conducted in my lab over the years that have explored the relevance of some of these more mainstream concepts (e.g., the endowment effect, the Ikea effect, choice overload) in research contexts conventionally populated by applied behavior analysts (e.g., choice and preference in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders; treatment of challenging behavior). These studies will be discussed in terms of the variables that may moderate observing the effects in clinical populations and why behavior analysts should become more familiar with these theoretically “foreign” concepts.

The experiences of family members of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are unique, and the relationships present unique challenges. For parents of individuals with ASD, the symptoms of ASD contribute to elevated stress among parents of children with ASD, and parents’ level of stress negatively impacts their ability to effectively implement interventions. However, research indicates that support and training from professionals can reduce parental stress. Further, some research in related disciplines indicates that professional empathy can improve patient adherence to treatment. As such, professionals who are trained in how to incorporate empathy and effective parent training into their work with families have the potential to maximize treatment benefit. This workshop, designed for behavior analysts and other professionals working with individuals with ASD, aims to increase their understanding of parents’ experiences and perspectives and provide guidance in how to best support these family members during treatment for the child with ASD. I will first summarize the research on the impact of raising a child with ASD on the mental health and relationships of parents. Further, I will describe the emotional reactions of parents to their child’s diagnosis as their child ages over time. Concrete strategies for building and maintaining rapport with parents during treatment will be provided throughout the workshop.

Recent trends in behavior-analytic research show that researchers and practitioners are interested in finding ways to improve the social validity of interventions (Ferguson et al., 2018). Currently, the most empirically supported intervention for pediatric feeding disorders is escape extinction (non-removal of the spoon); however, there is a growing body of evidence to support the use of various antecedent- and reinforcement-based alternatives. Although escape extinction is well-established, some may view this intervention to be more intrusive, which can lead to questions and misconceptions related to its social validity. The purpose of this talk is to discuss social validity as it relates to various treatments for pediatric feeding disorders and to review several antecedent- and reinforcement-based treatments with growing support. Finally, I will review methods for maintaining a safe environment for the comprehensive assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders.

In recent years, there have been calls to action about the importance of integrating values-based concepts into behavior analytic practice. Specifically, the need for compassionate care in our interactions with caregivers and clients has been especially emphasized. In addition, the concept of assent-based learning has been underscored, with a focus on honoring the individual’s wishes. Finally, the field has become more aware of the need to deliver services in a culturally responsive way, and has invested in training practitioners to serve diverse populations and to continually build their skills in understanding the impact of cultural variables. While these values are receiving a great deal of attention, they are not new, either in terms of the foundational values of ABA or in the context of our ethical obligations. In this talk, we will explore the history, ethics, and current discussions around these topics.