A Tactful Prompt: The Time is Right for Critical Behavioral Studies

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref OpenCitations
Learn more about the sources used

Jackson‐Perry, D., Suckle, E., Chown, N., & Tarbox, J. (2025). A Tactful Prompt: The Time is Right for Critical Behavioral Studies. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 48(3), 539-545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-025-00472-2

Publication date: 18 Aug 2025 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)
  1. David Jackson‐Perry
  2. Elsa Suckle
  3. Nicholas Chown *
  4. Jonathan Tarbox

Abstract

Abstract Feelings have long run high between many autistic advocates and behavior analysts. The former often experience and perceive ABA as harmful and traumatic in its methods, and prejudicial and stigmatizing in its objectives, with some of the latter retorting that criticisms reflect misunderstandings of the science rather than areas of true concern. The result? A deep and contentious conceptual divide, leaving little room for dialogue or progress. Recent months, though, have seen a tentative shift. Alongside recognition that behavioral interventions are so deeply entrenched that they are here to stay, some critical autism scholars are gingerly initiating public conversations with behavioral practitioners in a spirit of taking a pragmatic approach to meaningful reform. Further, a new generation of behavior analysts—including some autistic practitioners—is emerging, recognizing problems in their field, and considering how to address them. Interest in such developments is spreading and signals an opportunity for behavior analysts to follow other academic and advocate communities that recognize the importance of interdisciplinarity and critical self-reflection to evolve as a field. We—an interdisciplinary team of critical autism, neurodiversity, and behavior analysis scholars—feel that formalizing a broad field for scholars and practitioners sharing these ambitions holds potential. This field—let’s call it Critical Behavioral Studies —would favor profound social, cultural, and historical understanding, a commitment to extend the scope of training to better contextualize practice in relation to the group served, and the self-examination that would bring meaningful change to the field.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 01:00.

Cited references
25
With a DOI
18
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
7
6 / 25 (24.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
6 / 25 (24.0%)
References with detected author names
23 / 25 (92.0%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
6
Without a stable identifier
7
References with raw author names still to review
2
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
73
From DOI or external metadata
73
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
2
51 / 73 (69.9%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 22 / 73 (30.1%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
14 / 73 (19.2%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 14 / 51 (27.5%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 11 / 65 (16.9%).
  1. Stephen B. Fawcett (1991). SOME VALUES GUIDING COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND ACTION . Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24(4), 621-636. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1901/jaba.1991.24-621 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1989678128
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  2. Lauren Lestremau Allen , Leanna S. Mellon , Noor Syed , Joy F. Johnson , Armando J. Bernal * (2026). Neurodiversity-Affirming Applied Behavior Analysis . Behavior Analysis in Practice, 19(1), 302-324. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40617-024-00918-0 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4393158393
    AutiHub · Autistic Autism Scholarship Project Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  3. Joseph Veneziano , Shannon Shea (2023). They have a Voice; are we Listening? Behavior Analysis in Practice, 16(1), 127-144. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40617-022-00690-z OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4225414540
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Mitzi Waltz (2014). Worlds of autism: across the spectrum of neurological difference . Disability & Society, 29(8), 1337-1338. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2014.934064 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2047908406
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. LM Bambara (2025). Bambara, L. M., Dueñas, A. D., & Dwyer, P. (2025). Positive behaviour support and the neurodiversity perspective. International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support, 15(1), 4–22. International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support, 15(1), 4.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  6. James G. Holland (1978). BEHAVIORISM: PART OF THE PROBLEM OR PART OF THE SOLUTION? 1 . Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11(1), 163-174. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1901/jaba.1978.11-163 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2139131419
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Behavior Analyst Certification Board (n.d.). BACB certificant data. https://www.bacb.com/BACB-certificant-data
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  8. Gary Shkedy , Dalia Shkedy , Aileen H. Sandoval-Norton (2021). Long-term ABA Therapy Is Abusive: A Response to Gorycki, Ruppel, and Zane . Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 5(2), 126-134. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s41252-021-00201-1 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3153154469
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. Sneha Kohli Mathur , Kristine A. Rodriguez (2022). Cultural Responsiveness Curriculum for Behavior Analysts: A Meaningful Step Toward Social Justice . Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15(4), 1023-1031. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40617-021-00579-3 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3177334069
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  11. Nicholas Chown * , Shona Murphy * (2022). Social validity in relation to applied behaviour analysis . Academia Letters. Academia.edu.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.20935/al4751 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4206998114
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  13. N Chown (2023). Chown, N., Murphy, S., & Suckle, E. (2023). The autism worldview dilemma: To normalise or not to normalise, that is the question. Good Autism Practice, 24(2), 5–12. Good Autism Practice, 24(2), 5.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  15. David Wacker , John Northup , Linda Cooper (1992). Behavioral Assessment . In Behavioral Pediatrics (pp. 57-68). Springer New York.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4612-2774-8_4 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4245170331
    OpenAlex
  17. WC Follette (1992). Follette, W. C., Houts, A. C., & Hayes, S. C. (1992). Behavior therapy and the new medical model. Behavioral Assessment, 14, 323–323. Behavioral Assessment, 14, 323.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  18. Sneha Kohli Mathur , Ellie Renz , Jonathan Tarbox (2024). Affirming Neurodiversity within Applied Behavior Analysis . Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17(2), 471-485. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40617-024-00907-3 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4391217737
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  19. Joy F. Johnson (2025). From Harm to Healing: Building the Future of ABA with Autistic Voices . Societies, 15(3), 72. MDPI AG.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3390/soc15030072 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4408526691
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  20. E Kilgallon (2025). Kilgallon, E., Daou, N., & Gillespie-Lynch, K. (2025). In what ways is positive behaviour support consistent or inconsistent with the principles of the neurodiversity movement? It’s complicated. International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support, 15(1), 28–34. International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support, 15(1), 28.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  21. Michael Nicolosi , Karola Dillenburger (2025). Neurodiversity: A Behavior Analyst’s Perspective . Perspectives on Behavior Science, 48(3), 555-565. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40614-025-00435-7 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4407688751
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  22. Cody Morris (2025). Private Equity in Behavior Analysis: A Reckoning . Perspectives on Behavior Science, 48(3), 613-619. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40614-025-00446-4 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4409262478
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  23. Neumeier, S. M. (2018).”To Siri With Love” and the problem with neurodiversity lite. Rewire News Group. https://rewirenewsgroup.com/2018/02/09/siri-love-problem-neurodiversity-lite/
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  24. Timothy R. Vollmer , Janae’ A. Pendergrass (2025). Social Validity and Contemporary Applied Behavior Analysis . Perspectives on Behavior Science, 48(3), 519. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40614-025-00452-6 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4410340918
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  25. BF Skinner (1948). Walden two . Walden two.
    Type: Other
    Crossref