In this episode of the Behaviorist Book Club, Matt Harrington breaks down Morris et al.’s (2023) case study on multiply isolated functions of problem behavior. You’ll learn how to distinguish multiply controlled from synthesized reinforcement, see a real-world FA and dual FCT interventions with a 15-year-old learner, and explore the clinical implications for choosing the right assessment and treatment pathway. Want the full article details and resources? Check out the show notes at www.behavioristbookclub.com/blog.

In this episode of the Behaviorist Book Club, Matt Harrington unpacks Helvey et al.’s 2023 study on pairing functional and non-functional reinforcers in FCT for aggression and self-injury. You’ll learn how isolated vs. combined reinforcement arrangements were evaluated, why most clients preferred escape + tangibles over escape alone, and what this means for centering client voices and boosting long-term social validity. Ready to dive deeper? Check out the show notes for article links and supporting resources at www.behavioristbookclub.com/blog.

In this episode, Matt reviews Rohrer et al.’s 2023 study on teaching compassion skills to behavior-analysis master’s students—outlining 11 observable caregiver-interviewing behaviors, a simple didactic-plus-practice training model, and its impact on skill mastery and empathy scores. He reflects on compassion’s roots in social validity and the Ethics Code, challenges us to infuse client and caregiver priorities into every assessment and treatment plan, and asks where interpersonal skills training belongs in ABA education. Check out the show notes for article links and supporting information at www.behavioristbookclub.com/blog.