Summer 2015 marks the eighth consecutive year of the Sexual Behavior: Research and Practice SIG’s (formerly STEP SIG) involvement with the Association for Behavior Analysis, International. This year, our members will present a symposium and a panel discussion on topics related to sexual behavior at the conference!
We are a group devoted to researching sexual behavior, as well as promoting empirically verified sex education and sex therapy practices, areas that have traditionally been under-addressed in behavior analysis. Members of the group include professionals, teachers, direct service providers, parents, and consumers who are concerned with issues of sex research, sex therapy, and sex education.
We are holding several events at this year’s ABAI conference. On Saturday, May 23rd, we will present a symposium entitled “A Behavior Analytic Perspective on Gender and Sexuality” in room 204A (CC) from 3:00-4:50pm. It will include the following presentations: “Gender Through a Behavior Analytic Lens: Who You Are, What You Do, and Why You Do It” by Chelsey Brown and Fawna Stockwell, “Sexual Behavior and Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities: A Review of the Research and Interventions” by Sean Field, Steven Sparks, Christopher Walmsley, and Jessica E. Frieder, “Environmental Barriers to Responsible Sexual Behavior & Possible Solutions” by Nicolas Schreiber and Matt Gibson, and “Fighting a Hidden Battle: How Behavior Analysis Can Help to Prevent Sexual Assault in the U.S. Military” by Deric E. Toney, Ann M. Sturtz, and, Fawna Stockwell.
Members of the Sexual Behavior SIG will present a poster at the ABAI Expo from 8:00pm to 10:30pm in Exhibit Hall C (CC) (poster #149).
On Sunday, May 24th, a panel discussion entitled “Risky Business! Ethics and Applied Interventions in the Area of Sexuality,” will be held in the Grand Ballroom C2 (CC) from 4:00pm to 4:50pm with Peter F. Gerhardt, Bobby Newman, and Sorah Stein.
Also on Sunday, May 24th, we will hold the Sexual Behavior SIG business meeting from 6:00pm to 6:50pm in room 214C (CC). Please join us for any and all of these events!
This piece was originally published as a part of the Summer 2015 SBRP SIG Newsletter.