Re: BAO and Behavior Analsis as a "Cult"

In a message dated 04/19/2002 8:34:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:

<< With regard to the issue of Behavior Analysis becoming its own
 separate profession - I can say that here in Florida that is not even
 a question but a reality. The fact is that the profession of Applied
 Behavior Analysis has been separated from psychology in state
 law by the state legislature some years ago due to the lobbying
 efforts of FABA, which need to continue for ABA to enjoy such
 autonomy as a profession. >>

FABA's definitely taken the lead in this endeavour, and my hat's off to
the FABAns!  :-)  There's some effort underway here in Georgia
now to start GABA (seriously! <grin>), a Georgian Association for
Behavior Analysis, by the way.

<< FABA hosts a well-organized and well-attended conference
 on behavior analysis each year with presentations by leaders
 in the field nationally attending and presenting (e.g. Jack Michael,
 Murray Sidman, the late Glen Latham, and so on). >>

Yep. I attended a FABA convention a few years ago.  Very well
organized.  Top speakers.  Pleasant environs.  Plus, it was, well,
Florida!  :-)

<< I think this is an attestation to the role behavior analysts can
 have in society.  It could risk becoming cult-like, but we need
 to also monitor ourselves to prevent this from happening. >>

I doubt that it'd ever become a "cult."  Cults, at least if we
are talking about actual cults, are not scientific. Nor are they
based on science.  Therefore, if anyone wanted to argue that
BA is a cult, they'd have to make the case that (a) BA is not
scientific, and (b) that it's not based on science.  That'd be
a rather tall order.

Moreover, it's also up to the person asserting that it's a "cult"
to demonstrate, with evidence, how it is a cult.  The burden
of proof's on any person making such an assertion. The burden
of proof's not on us to demonstrate how and why BA isn't a
cult. Since no one has come forth with any evidence about how
BA is a cult, any assertion that it is one can be safely disregarded.

  -- JE