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The Constructional Approach: A Compassionate Approach to Behavior Change
Cameron M Scallan1, Jesús Rosales-Ruiz1
1Department of Behavior Analysis, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #310919, Denton, TX 76203 USA.
Behavior Analysis in Practice
|April 20, 2026
Summary
Behavior analysts can enhance compassionate care by integrating empathy and action to alleviate suffering. This framework uses the constructional approach to improve therapeutic relationships and behavior change procedures for children with autism.
Area of Science:
- Behavior Analysis
- Clinical Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Behavior analytic researchers are exploring compassion and empathy from other fields to improve practices.
- Existing applications have enhanced therapeutic relationships between behavior analysts and caregivers of children with autism.
- Further research is needed to integrate compassion into behavior change procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define compassion within behavior analysis.
- To examine compassion through the lens of constructional and pathological approaches.
- To provide a framework for compassionate behavior analytic services.
Main Methods:
- Identified three critical features of compassion: identifying suffering, demonstrating empathy, and acting to alleviate suffering.
- Discussed these features within Israel Goldiamond's constructional and pathological approaches.
- Utilized the four questions of the constructional approach as a framework.
Main Results:
- Compassion can be understood as identifying, empathizing with, and acting to alleviate suffering.
- The constructional approach offers a structured method for developing compassionate behavior analytic services.
- This framework can guide the development and implementation of behavior change procedures.
Conclusions:
- Behavior analysts can develop more compassionate services by understanding and applying the critical features of compassion.
- The constructional approach provides a practical framework for integrating compassion into behavior analytic practice.
- This integration can lead to improved outcomes for individuals receiving behavior analytic services.
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