Edited by author 05-03-2004 06:23 PM
John wrote, "Behaviorists must be open to somewhat open to criticism if we are to succeed. "

Indeed. And I wouldn't say that there's anything inherent in behavioural theory per se that requires behaviourists to be hostile to autistic people with opinions.

In fact, given the emphasis on scientific objectivity, you behaviorists should be particularly interested in being open to criticism and scientific discussion.

Which seems to be where you as an individual are coming from (and as jypsy says, it's a refreshing thing to see).

However, there does appears to be a dominant culture within the field of ABA which is very hostile, in a wholly unscientific way, to the idea of autistic people daring to disagree.

If that wasn't so, I doubt very much that Mulick et al would feel comfortable expressing themselves in the way they just have.

As Michelle described, the Feminine Boy Project was subject to widespread criticism on ethical grounds from within the behavioural field, led by Donald Baer.

There seems no scientific reason why the use of ABA to try to make autistic children "indistinguishable from their normal peers" shouldn't be subject to exactly the same sort of criticism by behaviourists, for exactly the same reasons.

But, for whatever reason, it doesn't appear to be happening at the moment.