CentralReach "ABA On Call" Season 8 Ep 2: Parenting Conversations in Behavior Analysis

About this episode

The episode discusses effective communication strategies for behavior analysts when interacting with parents about behavioral principles.

This episode features a discussion focused on equipping behavior analysts with practical strategies for communicating effectively with parents about core behavioral principles. Rick and Doug examine common parent concerns, including misconceptions about reinforcement versus bribery, objections to "rewarding" children for expected behavior, and the short- and long-term effects of yelling and punishment. The conversation explores coercive cycles, habituation to punishment, escalation patterns, and counter control. Rick and Doug also address adolescent behavior through the lens of reinforcement history and motivating operations, emphasizing that teenagers are shaped by contingencies rather than being "broken." Practical communication strategies are provided, including using lay terminology, modeling empathy, setting clear contingencies, and teaching parents replacement strategies for coercive interactions. The content is applied and practice-oriented, supporting behavior analysts in improving parent training and consultation outcomes. To earn CEUs for listening, click here , log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't…

People in this episode

Hosts: Rick, Doug

Topics covered

• parenting
• behavior analysis
• communication strategies
• reinforcement
• coercive cycles
• adolescent behavior

Keywords

• behavior analysis
• parent training
• reinforcement
• punishment
• communication strategies
• adolescent behavior
• coercive cycles

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CentralReach

Books & works: Punishment, Coercive family process

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