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Applied Behavior Analysis

Description of the Model

Behaviorism is a philosophical movement begun early 20th century that has given rise to two important applications in clinical settings. One branch derives from the work of Pavlov and Watson and classical conditioning, the other from Thorndike and Skinner and operant conditioning. Clinicians working in the operant behavioral tradition have been known as behavior modifiers or applied behavior analysts, and occasionally, as radical behaviorists. Historically, applied behavior analysts have conducted clinical work in institutional settings with children and adults with developmental disabilities or in schools with typically developing children. By contrast, clinicians working in the classical conditioning paradigm identify as behavior therapists. Practitioners of behavior therapies have been more closely associated with clinical work in adult outpatient settings, especially with anxiety and mood disorders.

The present entry focuses on adult clinical work conducted in the operant conditioning tradition. But first, theoretical issues generic to the behavioral therapies and areas in which applied behavior analysis (or ABA) diverges from behavior therapy (or BT) are described. Finally, following a description of the applied behavior analysis model, case examples of contemporary applications of applied behavior analysis in adult populations are presented.

Theoretical and Philosophical Elements of Behavioral Therapies

Behavioral therapies emphasize pragmatism, empirically based practice, and a present-time orientation, while rejecting unfavorable personality traits or biological deficits as explanations for psychological problems. Pragmatism is a uniquely American philosophy that dictates that therapist and client pursue “meaningful” and achievable goals. It is best summarized by the phrase, “Do what works.” Behavior therapies are empirically based in that they demand multi-informant, ongoing assessment, and evaluation of treatment outcome. In assessment, client reports and subjective impressions developed by therapists are checked, whenever possible, against measures of known reliability and validity. In general, direct observation is preferred (where practicable) over subjective ratings, and concrete evidence of behavior change is valued over self-reports.

Whether practiced by behavior therapists or applied behavior analysts, systematic evaluation of a therapy is expected before dissemination. Evidence showing both efficacy (utility in controlled research settings) and effectiveness (utility in clinical practice) is highly valued. The present orientation of behavioral therapies is evident in the emphasis on assessment of the environmental stimuli that are associated with the onset and offset of symptoms. In contrast, insightoriented therapies have often focused on past or internal facets of experience rather than on contextual factors that may contribute to psychological problems. Finally, behavioral therapies conceptualize psychological problems as “problems of learning” rather than evidence of disease processes (i.e., psychopathology) or personality flaws. By contrast, “symptoms” of psychological problems are described as “adaptive” or “maladaptive.”

Distinguishing ABA and BT

Applied behavior analysis can be distinguished from behavior therapy primarily in terms of the research methods used to evaluate treatment effectiveness, the extent to which mediational models of psychological functioning are accepted, and the importance of selectionism as a guiding construct. Relative to behavior therapists, applied behavior analysts have remained committed to the use of “small N” research designs such as the multiple baseline and reversal (ABAB). These “small N” designs permit evaluation of an individual's response to intervention as well as the analysis treatment failures that are obscured in “large N,” randomized control trials. By contrast, clinical studies evaluating group treatments have become increasingly popular in behavior therapy, as practitioners have sought to establish the external validity of their treatment protocols (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy, or CBT, for depression).

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