|
Behavior Analysis in Latin America: Looking From the Past Into the Future |
Monday, May 27, 2024 |
11:00 AM–11:50 AM |
Convention Center, 200 Level, 203 AB |
Area: PCH/CSS; Domain: Theory |
Chair: Varsovia Hernandez Eslava (Universidad Veracruzana) |
Discussant: Andres H. Garcia-Penagos (California State University, Chico) |
Abstract: Behavior analysis has a strong tradition in Latin America, where it is also an emerging field of practice. Although much work has been published in international journals about behavior analysis in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, little is known about the history of behavior analysis in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. In this symposium we will examine the past and current status of behavior analysis in Venezuela, a country with a rich heritage of behavior analysis and research, yet almost unknown to the international community. The symposium will follow with an overview of the current regulation of behavior analysis in 15 Latin American countries. By examining each country's regulations, laws, and coverage, identifying the challenges and opportunities for implementing and enforcing behavior analysis practices, the authors aim to establish a robust and sustainable framework for the regulation of behavior analysis. Together, these talks offer a look into the past, present, and future of behavior analysis in Latin America. Overall, we seek to recognize the legacy of our ancestors and promote international unity of our field. |
Instruction Level: Basic |
Target Audience: We expect that students and professionals in the field of behavior analysis who identify as Latin American, or Latinos/as/es/x, will attend this symposium. Additionally, professionals who work with clients from Latin America, or who work in Latin America will also find interest in this symposium. Finally, attendees interested in the history of the field of behavior analysis will also find valuable information in these presentations. |
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: (1) Identify founding leaders in behavior analysis in Venezuela (2) Draw similarities and differences in the practice of behavior analysis between two or more Latin American countries (3) Understand historical and cultural aspects involved in the emergence and growth of behavior analysis in Venezuela and other Latin American countries |
|
Behavior Analysis in Venezuela: An Unrecognized Legacy |
MIRARI ELCORO (Framingham State University), Amalix M Flores (University of South Florida), Corina Jimenez-Gomez (University of Florida) |
Abstract: Despite a solid tradition in behavior analysis in Venezuela, little is known about its history. The goal of this presentation is to trace the history of behavior analysis in Venezuela highlighting the role of impactful women leaders in the field. In doing this, we aim to recognize the legacy of our academic ancestors and to promote the unity of the discipline by highlighting a shared ancestry and an interconnected international community of teachers and researchers. To do this, we used historiographic methods and semi-structured interviews with ten members of the behavior-analytic community in Venezuela. We will present how our analysis and synthesis of sources and interviews guided us in describing the historical and cultural context in which behavior-analytic laboratories and academic programs were established in Venezuela in the 1970s. We will present an academic genealogy for each interviewee and elaborate on the participation of women, the influence of international scholars, and the work of Venezuelan professors and students. We will examine how environmental variables (e.g., sociopolitical context, funding availability) shaped the scientific behavior and idiosyncratic approach to behavior-analytic training and research in Venezuela. To close, we will describe the current state of behavior analysis in Venezuela. |
|
Regulation of Behavior Analysis in 15 Countries of Latin America: Assessing the Challenges and Opportunities for Implementation of the Science |
MIGUEL AVILA (Essential for Living), Mariana De Los Santos (Bloom Children's Center), Varsovia Hernandez Eslava (Universidad Veracruzana), Estefania Carla Alarcon Moya (Florida Institute of Technology; CeABA Chile), Carola Scolari (Casita ABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina) |
Abstract: Behavior analysis is an emerging field of practice across the world. However, a lack of global standardization has led to disparities in the quality and scope of practice in different countries. In Latin America, the field of behavior analysis is still relatively new, and the issue of regulation has been a significant challenge for professionals seeking to establish and expand their practice. This paper provides an overview of the current situation in the regulation of behavior analysis in 15 Latin American countries, examining each country's regulations, laws, and coverage, and identifying the challenges and opportunities for implementing and enforcing behavior analysis practices. By identifying these challenges and opportunities, this paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing efforts of behavior analysts in Latin America to establish a robust and sustainable framework for the regulation of behavior analysis. Despite the challenges facing the recognition and advancement of behavior analysis in Latin America, there are encouraging signs of progress. In particular, new professional organizations have emerged with a dual focus on promoting the science and establishing professional standards for its practice. |
|
|