Functional Relations

David Roth, a behavior analyst and member of the B.F. Skinner Foundation, explores the intersection of behaviorism and meditation. He shares insights into Skinner's thoughts on meditation and offers a behavior-analytic breakdown of self-mands and mindful practices. The conversation delves into everyday meditative routines, the significance of breath observation, and the challenges of loving-kindness. David also emphasizes the link between a deterministic view and enhanced compassion, encouraging practical ways to integrate contemplative habits into daily life.

Join Dr. David Cox, an expert in AI and ethics in behavioral services, as he explores the fine line between innovation and safety in AI applications. Discover how AI technologies like natural language processing and robotics can enhance behavior analysis practices. Dr. Cox addresses critical topics, including data privacy risks, the importance of transparency in AI use, and the need for ethical guidelines specifically for AI. He emphasizes the necessity of balancing rapid advancements with trustworthy implementations to safeguard both practitioners and clients.

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss feedback and leadership with Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni. 1.5 Supervision CEs (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) are available for this episode. You can purchase them at https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com Become a member to get access to our entire library of CEs and access exclusive behind the scenes content for $79/yr. https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com/subscription/membership Dr. Gavoni's Digital Business Card Some of Dr. Gavoni's books: The Feedback Effect: Lead Smarter, Not Harder With the Science of Human Behavior Adaptive Intelligence: The Evolution of Emotional Intelligence Through the Proven Power of Behavior Science Positional Authority Ain't Leadership: Behavioral Science for Navigating Bull$hit, Optimizing Performance, and Avoiding A$$ Clownery Deliberate Coaching: Optimizing Teaching and Learning Through Behavior Science: Education Edition The Feedback Effect: Lead Smarter, Not Harder With the Science of Human Behavior References: Austin, J. (2000). Performance analysis and performance diagnostics. Handbook of applied behavior analysis, 321-349. Bukszpan, A. R., Leaf, J. B., O'Brien, J. G., Lewis, A., Kristiansen, S., Lord, J., ... & Weiss, M. J. (2025). Utilizing the Teaching Interaction Procedure to Train Special Education Teachers in Behavioral Artistry. Behavioral Interventions, 40(3), e70017. Green, D. R., Ferguson, J. L., Cihon, J. H., Torres, N., Leaf, R., McEachin, J., ... & Leaf, J. B. (2020). The teaching interaction procedure as a staff training tool. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13(2), 421-433.

Zach and Caleb dive into the intriguing clash between radical behaviorism and mentalism. They explore how mentalistic explanations can hinder effective interventions, using frustration as a prime example. The duo emphasizes pragmatic approaches, citing William James on the importance of prediction and control in psychology. They also shed light on radical behaviorism's take on private events and environmental analysis. Listeners are left with a better understanding of behavior through the lens of environmental contingencies rather than inner causes.

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss private equity as an ownership structure and its implications for ABA companies w/ Dr. Cody Morris. 1 Ethics CE (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) is available for this episode. You can purchase it at https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com Become a member to get access to our entire library of CEs and access exclusive behind the scenes content for $79/yr. https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com/subscription/membership References: Morris, C. (2025). Private Equity in Behavior Analysis: A Reckoning. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 1-7. Morris, C., Grauerholz-Fisher, E., Ellsworth, M. E., & Crocker, C. E. (2024). A primer on private equity ownership in ABA. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-10. Palley, H. A. (1985). The Social Transformation of American Medicine.

In this episode Zach and Caleb are joined by Dr. Adithyan "Dithu" Rajaraman where the discussion focuses on challenging the 4-function worldview in the context of assessing and treating problem behavior. 2 CEs (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) are available for this episode. You can purchase them at https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com If you feel that our podcast is a valuable contribution to the field of ABA, please consider supporting us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/functionalrelationspodcast To connect with Dithu and the FTF team for a number of different types of support in serving individuals with severe problem behavior (among other behavioral challenges), click here: https://ftfbc.com/contact-us/ References: Pertaining to Mand compliance:1. Seminal Paper: Bowman, L. G., Fisher, W. W., Thompson, R. H., & Piazza, C. C. (1997). On the relation of mands and the function of destructive behavior. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 30(2), 251-265. 2. Literature review: Rajaraman, A., & Hanley, G. P. (2021). Mand compliance as a contingency controlling problem behavior: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(1), 103-121. Pertaining to the evolution of functional analysis: 1. Carr, E. G. (1977). The motivation of self-injurious behavior: a review of some hypotheses. Psychological bulletin, 84(4), 800. 2. Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1994). Toward a functional analysis of self‐injury. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 27(2), 197-209. 3. Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., & McCord, B. E. (2003). Functional analysis of problem behavior: A review. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 36(2), 147-185. On Literature reviews:Narrative review examples: 1. Thompson, R. H., & Iwata, B. A. (2005). A review of reinforcement control procedures. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 38(2), 257-278. 2. Friman, P. C., Hayes, S. C., & Wilson, K. G. (1998). Why behavior analysts should study emotion: The example of anxiety. Journal of applied Behavior analysis, 31(1), 137-156. 3. Rajaraman, A., Austin, J. L., Gover, H. C., Cammilleri, A. P., Donnelly, D. R., & Hanley, G. P. (2022). Toward trauma‐informed applications of behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(1), 40-61. Systematic or Scoping review (not meta-analyses) examples relevant to the discussion: 1. Jessel, J., Hanley, G. P., & Ghaemmaghami, M. (2020). On the standardization of the functional analysis. Behavior analysis in practice, 13, 205-216. 2. Ghaemmaghami, M., Hanley, G. P., & Jessel, J. (2021). Functional communication training: From efficacy to effectiveness. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 54(1), 122-143. 3. Howell, M., Dounavi, K., & Storey, C. (2019). To choose or not to choose?: A systematic literature review considering the effects of antecedent and consequence choice upon on-task and problem behaviour. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 6, 63-84. 4. Hustyi, K. M., Logue, J. J., & Hall, S. S. (2025). Skill-based treatment for challenging behavior in autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review of treatment characteristics and outcomes. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 119, 102523. 5. Cengher, M., Bowman, M. D., Shawler, L. A., & Ceribo‐Singh, M. S. M. (2022). A systematic review of mands for information. Behavioral Interventions, 37(3), 864-886. Meta-analyses examples relevant to the discussion: 1. Gover, H. C., Hanley, G. P., & Ruppel, K. W. (2022). On the generality of preference for contingent reinforcement. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(2), 318-336. 2. Slaton, J. D., & Hanley, G. P. (2018). Nature and scope of synthesis in functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51(4), 943-973. 3. Layman, L. N., Dufrene, B. A., Ackley, M. M., Weaver, C. M., Schneider, D. E., LaBrot, Z. C., ... & Olmi, D. J. (2024). Interview-informed synthesized contingency analyses on challenging problem behavior: A single-case meta-analysis. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 11(3), 640-658.

In the episode, Zach and Caleb discuss cultural selection and how it can be used to make improvements to your life with Dr. Dave Palmer. Check out all the things going on at the B.F. Skinner Foundation: https://www.bfskinner.org/ 1 CE is available for this episode. You can purchase it at https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com If you feel that our podcast is a valuable contribution to the field of ABA, please consider supporting us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/functionalrelationspodcast References: Skinner, B. F. (1984). Selection by consequences. Behavioral and brain sciences, 7(4), 477-481. Skinner, Burrhus Frederic. "What is wrong with daily life in the western world?." American psychologist 41, no. 5 (1986): 568. Skinner, B. F. (2005). Walden two. Hackett Publishing.

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss how to plan and structure supervision with Dr. Ellie Kazemi. 1 Supervision CE is available for this episode. You can purchase it at https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com If you feel that our podcast is a valuable contribution to the field of ABA, please consider supporting us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/functionalrelationspodcast Dr. Kazemi's book on supervision: https://www.springerpub.com/fieldwork-and-supervision-for-behavior-analysts-9780826188724.html Discount Code: AUTHOR30 Dr. Pat Friman Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyClJpztOSshttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MyClJpztOSs References: Kazemi, E., Adzhyan, P., & Rice, B. (2024). Fieldwork and supervision for behavior analysts: A handbook. Springer Publishing Company.

In this episode, Zach and Caleb talk to Dr. Casey Clay about how behavior analysts can bring ABA to hospital settings. 1 learning CE is available for this episode. You can purchase it at https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com If you feel that our podcast is a valuable contribution to the field of ABA, please consider supporting us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/functionalrelationspodcast References: Allen, K. D., Barone, V. J., & Kuhn, B. R. (1993). A behavioral prescription for promoting applied behavior analysis within pediatrics. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26(4), 493-502. Friman, P. C. (2010). Come on in, the water is fine: Achieving mainstream relevance through integration with primary medical care. The Behavior Analyst, 33, 19-36. Hagopian, L. P., Kurtz, P. F., Bowman, L. G., O'Connor, J. T., & Cataldo, M. F. (2023). A neurobehavioral continuum of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with severe problem behavior. Children's Health Care, 52(1), 45-69. Lambert, J. M., Staubitz, J. E., Roane, J. T., Houchins‐Juárez, N. J., Juárez, A. P., Sanders, K. B., & Warren, Z. E. (2017). Outcome summaries of latency‐based functional analyses conducted in hospital inpatient units. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 50(3), 487-494.

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss new technology with Dr. Ellie Kazemi, and its implications for training, ethics, and the future of ABA. Bill Gates discussing the internet with Letterman in 1995: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBSLUbpJvwA&ab_channel=TheQuantumRecord To further support us, check out our silly video at www.patreon.com/functionalrelationspodcast References: Chang, A. A., Kazemi, E., Esmaeili, V., & Davies, M. S. (2024). The effectiveness of virtual reality training: A systematic review. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 44(3), 214-232. DiGennaro Reed, F. D., Blackman, A. L., Erath, T. G., Brand, D., & Novak, M. D. (2018). Guidelines for using behavioral skills training to provide teacher support. Teaching Exceptional Children, 50(6), 373-380. Hineline, P. N. (1983). When we speak of knowing. The Behavior Analyst, 6(2), 183. Lotfizadeh, A. D., McCoy, E., & Kazemi, E. (2024). Robots as behavior change agents: Can robots teach behavior technicians to implement differential reinforcement?. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice. Shapiro, M., & Kazemi, E. (2017). A review of training strategies to teach individuals implementation of behavioral interventions. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 37(1), 32-62.