Third Wave Applied Behavior Analysis with Dr. Jonathan Tarbox

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.