Evidence-Based Practice in the Age of Culture Wars: Challenges for Culturally Responsive Applied Behavior Analysis

There are many pressure points in society that induce strong reactions and intransigent verbal behavior. In this article, I argue the current biggest challenge in culturally responsive applied behavior analysis lies in avoiding getting dragged into the current culture wars while continuing to engage in evidence-based practice. Although there is no simple solution, I refer to what might seem like simple ways to address this challenge: (1) behave like a scientist-practitioner; (2) conduct research to expand evidence-based practices; and (3) monitor your own behavior to ensure practices align with the relevant ethics code. Do not let the simplicity of the suggestions fool you, because enacting them can be challenging and requires diligent practice.