Vinca Rivière
University of Lille III
Vinca Rivière, Ph. D, BCBA-D, is a professor of developmental psychology and behavior analysis at the University of Lille. Since 1990, she is trying with her colleague Pr. Jean Claude Darcheville, to develop behavior analysis in France. Her Ph. D. dissertation was about learning in infants and children with fixed-interval schedules and self-control paradigm: “Ontogeny of temporal regulation and impulsiveness.” She began her career in 1992 as assistant professor at the University of Lille. Her research focuses on the development and learning in infants and in young children with and without developmental disorders both in the field of experimental and applied behavior analysis. Her areas of research in the field of experimental analysis address resistance to change, temporal regulation and variability. With regards to applied behavior analysis she has primarily investigated autistic disorders. In 2000, she launched the first master program and a doctoral program in the field of Behavior Analysis in France, at the University of Lille. Actually, the master program obtains the accreditation of BACB®. She has contributed to the development of behavioral sciences within the university programs but also to the recognition of behavioral sciences among the general public and professionals in France. She created “Association Pas à Pas” (Step by Step in French) in 2000 to link the research in behavior analysis and the general public (to make evidence based practise issued from the field of behavior analysis available to the general public). Many conferences were organised by “Association PAS A PAS”. In 2008, the first experimental center for Children with autism using behavior analysis opened and 20 children are currently benefiting from intensive behavioral intervention (totally free of charge for parents). In 2009, the Chapter « French ABA » was developed to promote dissemination and training in behavior analysis in France. She has authored books to disseminate ABA in French and papers in international journals like Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior and Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.