Culturo-Behavioral Functional Analysis: Guidelines for including cultural phenomena in the behavior analytic clinical setting

Abstract

Functional assessment is a tool used by behavior analysts to formulate cases and therapeutic interventions, and is based on the functional analysis method, which consists of identifying contingent relationships between environmental variables and individual’s responses. One criticism of a clinical psychology is emphasizing the client’s life history to the detriment of cultural contexts. Culturo Behavior Science (CBS) is a new specialization/concentration in Behavior Analysis providing a framework to investigate cultural phenomena and important social issues. The purpose of this study was to analyze, theoretically and philosophically, notions underlying functional analysis and to propose guidelines for including cultural and systemic phenomena in clinical functional assessments. Conceptual-theoretical research was conducted using the Conceptual Interpretation of Text Procedure (Procedimento de Interpretação Cconceitual de Texto; PICT). Results suggest that the selection by consequences model is consistent with including CBS elements in clinical functional analyses and may also have promising contributions to verbal behavior. Then, applications of CBS concepts (product and interlocked behavioral contingencies) are analyzed. Next, guidelines to culturo-behavioral functional analysis are described. Finally, limitations to current analyses and proposed guidelines are discussed along with possibilities for further dialogue and potential models incorporating systemic and cultural phenomena in the functional analyses conducted by behavioral-analytic therapists.