ON DEMAND: Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Abuse: Using Applied Behavior Analysis for Identification and Prevention

Domestic violence and intimate partner abuse remain serious societal problems affecting millions annually. This presentation will provide professionals in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) with relevant background and statistics on domestic violence, and discuss how the principles and techniques of ABA can be utilized to identify red flags and promote safety for victims. First, current data on the prevalence of domestic violence will be reviewed, including how it impacts victims of different demographics. Next, an overview will be given on how ABA practitioners can create functional behavior assessments for at-risk individuals, identify antecedents of abuse such as substance use, outline positive alternatives to aggression, and develop safety plans for potential victims. The presentation will also discuss methods like differential reinforcement and skills training which may lessen the risk of an abusive incident. Finally, the talk will emphasize how ABA professionals have an ethical responsibility to identify signs of domestic abuse and act to keep their clients safe when possible. The goal is to demonstrate how the science of behavior change can lead to improved identification of domestic violence risk factors and prevention of intimate partner abuse through humane, empirically-based techniques. The presentation will conclude that ABA professionals are in a position to make a positive difference in this societal epidemic.

1: Participants will be able to describe current statistics on the prevalence and demographics of domestic violence.

2: Participants will be able to explain how principles of ABA like functional assessments and antecedent interventions can identify risk factors for intimate partner abuse.

3: Participants will be able to discuss at least 3 ABA-based techniques such as differential reinforcement, token economies, and skills training that may help prevent domestic violence.

4: Participants will be able to identify ethical obligations for ABA professionals to promote safety of clients experiencing intimate partner abuse.