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Applied behavior analysis , also called behavioral engineering, is a scientific discipline that applies empirical approaches based upon the principles of respondent and operant conditioning to change behavior of social significance. It is the applied form of behavior analysis; the other two forms are radical behaviorism and the experimental analysis of behavior.
The name applied behavior analysis has replaced behavior modification because the latter approach suggested attempting to change behavior without clarifying the relevant behavior-environment interactions. In contrast, ABA changes behavior by first assessing the functional relationship between a targeted behavior and the environment. Further, the approach often seeks to develop socially acceptable alternatives for aberrant behaviors.
Although behavior analysts overwhelmingly specialize in autism treatment, ABA has also been utilized in a range of other areas, including applied animal behavior, schoolwide positive behavior support, classroom instruction, structured and naturalistic early behavioral interventions for autism, pediatric feeding therapy, rehabilitation of brain injury, dementia, fitness training, substance abuse, phobias, tics, and organizational behavior management.
ABA is considered controversial by some, and generally opposed within the autism rights movement, for a number of reasons. ABA practitioners are not required to have extensive knowledge about autism in order to gain certification, leading to concerns that they may not understand the significance or purpose of behaviours they are trying to change. There is a perception that ABA emphasizes normalization instead of acceptance. There have been accounts and concerns about uncertain but possible long-term risks of ABA interventions in promoting excessive camouflaging , as higher camouflaging have been associated with poorer mental health in numerous studies, and perhaps suicidality among autistic people. To address these concerns, there have been some recent reforms of ABA interventions to incorporate neurodiversity values and principles, notably Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions. Moreover, there is a history of the use of aversives such as electric shocks, which is currently legal in the USA but rarely implemented. ABA is also controversial due to its relatively weak evidence base, generally low quality of evidence, researchers' failure to investigate possible harms and disclose conflicts of interest.