APBA Book review Dr. Paula Danquah-Brobby

Book Review on Conners and Cappell’s (2021; first edited volume), Multiculturalism and Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis: Bridging Theory and Application

Dr. Paula Danquah-Brobby

A first of its kind in behavior analysis, Conners and Cappell’s (2021; first edited volume), Multiculturalism and Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis: Bridging Theory and Application, serves as a foundational introduction to a vital and socially significant area of scholarly inquiry and practice. The editors bring together a diverse group of behavior analytic and allied professionals (such as the incomparable Dr. Elizabeth Fong) to produce 16 short yet impactful chapters on key issues related to multiculturalism. Most of the chapters include learning objectives, case studies, discussion questions, and reference lists for readers to enjoy. The book ends with a “Test Bank” that contains 10 exam questions (and answer keys) for each core chapter—perfect for current and future behavior analytic professionals: educators, fieldwork supervisors, students, researchers, practitioners, etc. Overall, this long overdue book is a great primer that introduces behavior analytic professionals to theoretical, conceptual, and clinical applications of multiculturalism in applied behavior analysis (ABA). For the purpose of this review, I have divided the textbook into four main sections and will give a brief overview of each. 

NOTE: The second edition of this book was published in September 2024. As a result, an APBA review of the latest edition will be released early next year. In the meantime, we decided to review the first edition to remind readers of where this important dialogue began and set the occasion for understanding how the second edition expands upon these critical conversations.  

SECTION ONE (chapters 1-3): Introduction, Self-Reflective Practices, and Multicultural Standards 

The first three chapters set the tone for the rest of the book, underscoring the importance of fostering multiculturalism (i.e., access, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; AJEDI) within and across every aspect of the behavior analytic (BA) field—including ourselves. Chapter one highlights the need for an academic multiculturalism resource for our BA professional community, as our field has not contributed much in this area of study. Conners specifies the purpose of the book, defines cultural terms, and states the contributors’ intentions for work. Chapter two presents the ADDRESSING framework for “systematically and intentionally assessing culture in oneself and in others...” (p. 6). Dr. Fong gifts us with chapter three, where she argues that an increasingly racially/ethnically diverse ABA client base calls for a more racially/ethnically diverse field of practitioners. Additionally, practitioners of behavior analysis need to educate themselves on multiculturalism, and learn how to be effective when working with diverse populations (p.22). Dr. Fong goes on to define what culturally sensitive best practices and multicultural standards look like in allied professions; provides historical overviews about multicultural standards, both within and outside of ABA; suggests multicultural guidelines and ethical standards for cultural competence with behavior analysis; and discusses potential strengths in challenges with establishing guidelines for our field.  

SECTION TWO (chapters 4 – 9): Working with Diverse Historically Minoritized and Marginalized Populations 

In this section, core concepts presented in the previous three chapters are applied to specific historically minoritized and marginalized (HMM; Black et al., 2023; Wingrove-Haughland, 2021) populations: individuals belonging to African American, Latino, Asian American, Arab-Muslim American, and LGBTQIA groups, communities, and identities, respectively. The five chapters examine the unique clinical needs of each of the five HMM communities showcased. Readers can expect informative, rich yet concise discussions concerning a) historical overview of each group’s lived experience in the U.S. and the subsequent impacts/cumulative effects that persist to this day (generational trauma, structural barriers, othering, dehumanization, social determinants of health, etc.); b) how the marginalization and minoritization of each group has affected access to quality ABA services; c) clinical applications and guidance; d) ethical and professional considerations; and e) recommendations for best practice/culturally responsive strategies for service delivery.   

SECTION THREE (chapters 10 – 15): Training and Supervision  

The next five chapters in this section center applying multicultural best practices, considering sociocultural contexts, and maintaining cultural awareness when providing behavior analytic caregiver training and fieldwork supervision. Although some of the content presented in these chapters may have been discussed in previous sections, readers will appreciate and benefit from having concepts applied to diverse clinical, educational and training scenarios; professional development; and client services. In other words, multicultural best practices, considerations, adaptations, and modifications are further discussed within the context of training/education and professional development. Topics include developing one’s cultural self-awareness, understanding of how families perceive autism (i.e., meaning-making), organizational diversity statements, cultural accommodations in caregiver training, cultural variables that may impact clients, and cross-cultural supervision.  

SECTION FOUR (chapter 16): Future Directions 

The last chapter proposes ways that behavior analytic professionals can increase multicultural competences across the field.  

To conclude, though published in 2021, much of this book holds relevance today—especially for our current and future behavior analytic professionals and consumers. The book offers valuable introductory resources, frameworks, case examples, and recommendations. The main takeaways are a) sociocultural context is a key environmental variable that cannot be ignored, dismissed, or under-prioritized when providing services to our consumers—especially those belonging to HMM groups; b) becoming skilled in effective multicultural service delivery requires a commitment to ongoing, lifelong self-reflective practices; and c) as a community, we must co-create systems that support this paradigm shift, such as developing multicultural standards and requirements for demonstrating cultural competence in behavior analytic practice. Dixon et al. (2023) stated, “what we value defines what our field is attempting to achieve in society and with our clients” (p. 122); our community needs to come together to define what we value and what we are attempting to achieve with all clients, each other, and our society.  

References: 

Black, C., Cerdeña, J. P., & Spearman-McCarthy, E. V. (2023). I am not your minority. Lancet Regional Health - Americas (Online), 19, Article 100464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2023.100464 

Conners, B. M., & Capell, S. T. (Shawn T. (2021). Multiculturalism and Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis: Bridging Theory and Application (B. M. Conners & S. T. Capell, Eds.; 1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429263873 

Danquah-Brobby, P. (2023). Spiritual Activism. In E. B. Rasmussen, T. M. Cihon, & R. A. Rehfeldt (Eds.), Women in Behavior Science (1st ed., pp. 191–208). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003216773-14 

Dixon, M. R., Hayes, S. C., & Belisle, J. (Eds.). (2023). Acceptance and commitment therapy for behavior analysts : a practice guide from theory to treatment. Routledge. 

Jordan, J. V. (2017). Relational–Cultural Theory: The Power of Connection to Transform Our Lives. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 56(3), 228–243. https://doi.org/10.1002/johc.12055  

powell, j. a., & Menendian, S. (2016). The problem of othering: Towards inclusiveness and belonging. Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, University of California, Berkeley. https://belonging.berkeley.edu/problem-othering-towards-inclusiveness-and-belonging  

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf  

 Wingrove-Haugland, E., & McLeod, J. (2021). Not “Minority” but “Minoritized.” Teaching Ethics, 21(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.5840/tej20221799