A Behavior Analytic Perspective on African American History and Modern Social Group Contingencies
Dominique Gary, BCBA • 2 Learning, 2 IBAO
From a behavior analytic perspective, cultural practices are maintained by interlocking behavioral contingencies that produce aggregate outcomes reinforcing those practices across generations. African American history in the United States reflects prolonged exposure to coercive, exclusionary, and survival-based contingencies that have shaped adaptive social group behaviors still evident in modern African American communities. This paper applies core principles articulated in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) to examine how historical contingencies have selected contemporary social group contingencies such as collectivism, vigilance, mutual aid, and resistance. To enhance conceptual understanding and social validity, this paper embeds experiential learning opportunities designed for presenter–audience interaction, allowing conference participants to directly contact the functional relations discussed. Implications for culturally responsive behavior analytic practice and training are emphasized.
After participating in this presentation, learners will be able to:
- Describe how historical and contemporary reinforcement and punishment contingencies have selected modern social group contingencies within the African American community using behavior analytic terminology.
- Discriminate between individual-level operant behavior and social group contingencies when analyzing contemporary community practices, including identification of aggregate outcomes and contextual variables.
- Evaluate applied behavior analytic practices by assessing their alignment with social validity, cultural responsiveness, and ethical considerations related to respect for client dignity and community values.
Training Includes
- 1 Session
- Training Certificate
