Standard Two: Self-Awareness

Behavior Analysts shall be aware of their own personal, cultural values, and beliefs as one way of appreciating the importance of multicultural identities in people's lives.

Course Learning Objective #1

Provide a radical behaviorist perspective on culture and cultural-level selection.  

• Alignment with BACB Coursework Standards (2027)

  Theory and Philosophy in Behavior Analysis    

• Alignment with BACB Test Content Outline 6th Edition (2025)

  A.3 Explain behavior from the perspective of radical behaviorism.    

• Resources to Support Learning Objectives

  Peer-Reviewed Publications	Non-Peer Reviewed Resources
  Music as a Cultural Inheritance System: A Contextual-Behavioral Model of Symbolism, Meaning, and the Value of Music.	Science and Human Behavior
  	Addressing Cultural Complexities

   

Course Learning Objective #2

Identify similarities and differences between the philosophical tenets of radical behaviorism and intersectional feminism.     

• Alignment with BACB Coursework Standards (2027)

  Theory and Philosophy in Behavior Analysis    

• Alignment with BACB Test Content Outline 6th Edition (2025)

  A.3 Explain behavior from the perspective of radical behaviorism.    

• Resources to Support Learning Objectives

  Peer-Reviewed Publications	Non-Peer Reviewed Resources
  Intersectional Feminism and Behavior Analysis	Addressing cultural complexities in practice: A framework for clinicians and counselors
  Personal Agency in Feminist Theory: Evicting the Illusive Dweller

   

Course Learning Objective #3

Explain the concept of intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1990) and apply an intersectional framework to one's own cultural identities to appreciate the complexity of every person's unique constellation of cultural identities.     

• Alignment with BACB Ethics Code (2022)

  1.07 Cultural Responsiveness and Diversity.    

• Resources to Support Learning Objectives

  Peer-Reviewed Publications	Non-Peer Reviewed Resources
  An Intersectional Examination of Disability and Race Models in Behavior-Analytic Practice	Kimberlé Crenshaw on intersectionality | The Big Idea
  	Privilege: Read, reflect, resist: Deconstructing privilege

   

Course Learning Objective #4

Complete cultural self-assessments to identify personal cultural values and biases. Reflect on the implications of the obtained outcomes on one's practice of applied behavior analysis and professional conduct.     

• Alignment with BACB Coursework Standards (2027)

  Behavior Assessment and Intervention; Organizational Behavior Management; Ethics in Behavior Analysis    

• Alignment with BACB Test Content Outline 6th Edition (2025)

  E.9 Engage in cultural humility in service delivery and professional relationships.
  E.11 Identify personal biases and how they might interfere with professional activity.    

• Alignment with BACB Ethics Code (2022)

  1.07 Cultural Responsiveness and Diversity.
  1.08 Nondiscrimination.
  1.10 Awareness of Personal Biases and Challenges.

• Resources to Support Learning Objectives

  Peer-Reviewed Publications	Non-Peer Reviewed Resources
  Cultural Responsiveness in Applied Behavior Analysis: Self-assessment.	The multicultural sensitivity of physician assistant students
  	Clinical competence and social validity: Serving LGBTQIA clients and their allies

   

Course Learning Objective #5

Compare and contrast one's own cultural norms (e.g., greetings, etiquette in people’s homes, acceptance of gifts, behaviors related to time, gender roles in families, role of family members in caregiving), cultural values (e.g., independence vs. interdependence) and cultural beliefs (e.g., western medical model) with those of different communities.

• Alignment with BACB Coursework Standards (2027)

  Behavior Assessment and Intervention; Organizational Behavior Management

• Alignment with BACB Ethics Code (2022)

  1.10 Awareness of Personal Biases and Challenges.

Explore the Culture & Diversity Toolkit Here

• Culture & Diversity Toolkit
• Standard One
• Standard Two
• Standard Three
• Standard Four
• Standard Five
• Standard Six
• Standard Seven
• Standard Eight

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^{Copyright ©2026 Meghan A. Deshais,  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  All rights reserved.}