Examining Relationships In Applied Behavior Analysis: Training In Compassion, Burnout, Self-Compassion, And Inflexibility

Abstract

Compassionate care has been shown to have a positive impact on treatment outcomes and is embedded as part of the 2022 Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts. Historically, applied behavior analyst training programs have not universally focused on training in compassion and building therapeutic relationships. It is also not clear to what extent behavior analysts incorporate compassion into their own professional roles (e.g., as practitioners, supervisors/supervisees, or trainers), or engage in additional professional or personal training in this area. A further aim was to investigate whether there are any relationships between the self-reported scores on the amount of training in compassion, burnout, self-compassion, and psychological inflexibility. In the present study, behavior analytic practitioners (n=96) were surveyed on their self-reported educational and professional training experiences in compassion and building therapeutic relationships, and their levels of burnout (OLBI), self-compassion (SCS-SF), and psychological inflexibility (AAQ-2). The self-reported results indicate little training in this area, moderate levels of burnout and self-compassion, and generally low levels of psychological inflexibility. Further, there is a negative relationship between self-compassion and inflexibility. These findings suggest a first step in which more specific training in compassion and psychological flexibility should be incorporated into graduate programs and the workplace.