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Towards Ethical Spaces of Engagement in Behavior...
Journal article

Towards Ethical Spaces of Engagement in Behavior Analysis

Abstract

Although behavior analysts have published calls to action related to diversity, equity, interprofessional collaboration, and social justice, the field's understanding and application of cultural humility remains unclear. Cultural competency frameworks, although aiming to enhance cross-cultural and interdisciplinary efficacy, often fail to address power imbalances and the pervasive influence of Euro-Western epistemologies. An alternative, cultural humility, promotes lifelong self-reflection, acknowledgment of biases, and respectful interactions with diverse cultures and disciplines. This concept emphasizes redressing power imbalances and fostering nonpaternalistic community partnerships, which are crucial for effective interprofessional collaboration. In behavior analysis, recent efforts have highlighted cultural humility's importance, but challenges persist, particularly in a meaningful response to power imbalances, systemic inequities and fostering community-based, reciprocal relationships across cultures and disciplines. This article proposes adopting the ethical space of engagement framework as a promising tool to facilitate meaningful interactions among behavior analysts and diverse cultures and disciplines. The ethical space framework aims to identify intersections, respect boundaries, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement; potentially enhancing the field's cultural responsiveness, equity in practice, and capacity for effective interprofessional collaboration. We provide a comparison of behavior analytic and Indigenous perspectives to illustrate the concept.

Authors

Busch L; Thomson K; Powless-Lynes MY; Ng O; Spiker S

Journal

Behavior and Social Issues, , , pp. 1–21

Publisher

Springer Nature

Publication Date

January 29, 2025

DOI

10.1007/s42822-024-00194-1

ISSN

1064-9506
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