International developments in behavior therapy in Latin America

The development of behaviour therapy in Latin America is presented, beginning with the work of Keller and Bijou in Brazil and Mexico respectively. In the decade of the 70's the experimental analysis of behaviour and interventions to change undesired behavior were considered scientific and professional alternatives to psychoanalysis. Psychologists trained in objective methodology began work on clinical problems, and were followed by psychiatrists not satisfied with traditional approaches. Today behavior therapy and behavior modifications are known and practiced in the majority of the Latin American countries. Important basic research is in progress.