Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1
Developmental Behavior Analysis
By Martha Pelaez
Our Purpose
The Developmental Behavior-Analysis SIG focuses upon behavior-analytic functional relations and where those relations are examined across at least two points or segments in development. Our emphasis is on the functional analyses of environmental-behavior interactions, in basic science as well as applied contexts, at particular developmental periods and across sequences or combinations of developmental periods. A range of species may be explored and species-specific variables can be significant contributors to a functional account.
Emphasis on demographic independent variables (e.g., culture, group, gender) is not typical, except when they can facilitate uncovering underlying behavioral processes. Occasionally, the environment-behavior interactions in developmental are grouped under superordinate concepts such as "attachment," "depression," "learned helplessness," "generalized imitation," "observational learning", and "social referencing" to allow the behavior-analytic description/explanation to be evaluated against alternative accounts. In this light, SIG presentations often examine how different theoretical positions, within and outside behavior analysis, approach identical questions. Historical and conceptual aspects of behaviorism, evolutionary biology, and behavior analysis as a basic and applied science are also common themes.
The Developmental SIG routinely produces a full program for each ABAI annual meeting, in which symposia, papers, invited addresses, tutorials, and panel discussions covering the range of interests noted above are represented. At the coming Phoenix conference, we have added to our program applied behavior analysis symposia focusing on developmental issues.
Our Journal
The SIG also publishes a journal, Behavior Development Bulletin (BDB), featuring refereed articles on theory and research in behavioral development. Initiated and edited by Martha Pelaez, the mission of this journal is to provide behavior analysts with peer-reviewed scientific information including research in cognitive development, child emotional development, developmental theory, and socialization. Since its inception, by Martha Pelaez (Editor), the BDB has published more than 100 articles of an inter- and multidisciplinary nature including areas of socio-biology, moral and language development, and behavioral methodology. BDB is listed among the Behavior Analyst Online journals. Its papers are especially relevant to behavior analysts who study the developmental processes responsible for behavior changes and their progressive organization. BDB seeks to provide enlightenment on these issues by exploring the biological and environmental factors that affect behavioral development, while maintaining a primarily interest in the role of environmental contingencies in behavior change. You may access current and past issues of this journal at: http://www.behavioraldevelopmentbulletin.com
Our Convention Program
DEV SIG contributed substantially to the richness and variety of the ABAI annual convention program in Chicago. More than 20 presentations were delivered by well-known scientists. Among the highlights of our program was Howard Rachlin's invited presentation "Self-Control and Social Cooperation.” Rachlin showed that patterns of behavior that maximize reward distributed over wide temporal or social distances may be selected by reinforcement and evolve over the lifetimes of individuals by a process akin to group selection in biological evolution. Peter Killeen's discussion of evo-devo concepts raised provocative questions such as: "Does the efficiency of evolution, crafting endless forms most beautiful from a meager number of genes, suggest mechanisms for the blossoming of creative behavior in Homo sapiens?"
In 2009, the DEV SIG highlighted excellent invited speakers including Paul Andronis, Celia Moore, and Dave Moore as presenters and Susan Schneider as discussants in Skinner's Lecture and Invited Symposium on: The Bigger Picture from Infancy to Evolution: Genes, Development, and Behavior Analysis. This symposium emphasized that with rapid physical, behavioral, emotional, sexual, and social development; hormonal and neurophysiologic changes; genetic differences; immediate-early-genes being turned on and off; as well as learning's accelerating trajectory; understanding development presents a blooming, buzzing scientific challenge. The symposium participants focused on illuminating the starring role behavior analysis could play in the next frontier of nature and nurture.
Other participants in the 2009 program included Hank Schlinger, Jack Marr, Martha Pelaez, and Hayne Reese. Finally, in a special symposium, the SIG recognized the life and contributions of Peter Harzem, our esteemed colleague and friend who passed away this year.
The Developmental Behavior Analysis SIG welcomes new members from those working in basic and/or in applied behavior analysis. Dues are $15 per year and include a subscription to the SIG journal Behavior Development Bulletin. For subscriptions and submissions contact:
Martha Pelaez, Ph.D. College of Education, FIU, Miami FL, 33199, USA.
http://www.behavioraldevelopmentbulletin.com
Members are encouraged to submit articles for publication in the journal and papers, symposia, panel debates, and the like, for inclusion on the SIG program of the annual ABA Conference to:
Gary Novak, Department of Psychology, California State University, Stanislaus, 801 Monte Vista Ave, Turlock, CA 95382.