Activism, Advocacy, and Accompaniment

Behavior analysts, as Skinner (Beyond Freedom and Dignity, Knopf/Random House, New York, NY, 1971) implied, can play an important role in promoting progressive social change but they will need to acquire additional competencies, such as those encompassed by three key social action behavioral repertories: activism, advocacy, and accompaniment (AAA). We examine how behavioral scientists can become activists, advocates, and accompaniers who are prepared to foster changes at multiple levels of analysis and thereby increase their impact in society. We contend that because scientific activities do not occur in a social and cultural vacuum, but rather, within a complex system of interlocked behaviors, a basic understanding of behavior principles, methodology, and interventions is insufficient to achieve the ambitious goal of promoting meaningful change. Behavior analysts also must acquire the knowledge and skills that provide them with a deep understanding of the cultural milieu within which a social change intervention is to occur. These competencies are not taught in most graduate programs yet are essential if behavior analysts are to effectively promote the kind of cultural change that Skinner envisioned and inspired others to pursue and embody in their work. The AAAs discussed in this chapter suggest specific strategies and behavioral repertoires that are likely to enhance the impact behavior analytic work can have in the larger system of interlocked behaviors. We also propose analytic tools to identify feasible pathways toward systemic changes and offer two recommendations that aim to alter the milieu of the behavior analytic community in order to promote training in AAAs.