What Is Consent? Examining Appetitive Interlocking Behavior Contingencies | Ethics BCBA CEU Credits: 2

Although often thought to be a skill within the domain of sexual behavior and one tied to the prevention of sexual assault and coercion (Beres, 2020), consent is an interlocking contingency which is necessary for honoring autonomy and human rights across the lifespan both within and outside of sexual contexts. In particular, understanding consent in ABA is crucial for professionals who are teaching and facilitating these skills. Because of this, consent-giving and consent-honoring are skills that should be taught and facilitated from birth onward. Emerging research on consent continuums (Brady et al., 2017; Whittington, 2021) point to a need for expansive education and an approach rooted in functional contextualism, however it may be difficult for practitioners to assess and identify which components of consent skills may be in a learner’s repertoire, and where they should start with teaching consent. This workshop will empower practitioners to identify critical consent skills in ABA practice, to facilitate consent exchanges in early education, and to teach social and safety skills for giving consent and for honoring others’ consent across the lifespan. Additionally, this workshop will empower practitioners to teach about consent in accessible components based on a learner’s current repertoire. Consent in ABA is gaining recognition as a vital part of professional ethics. Empirically supported research will be shared as applicable and content limitations and risks of practice will be discussed.

This course extends beyond the current BCBA and BCaBA Task Lists by conceptually reframing consent as an interlocking appetitive contingency that spans sexual and non-sexual contexts—a nuanced perspective not explicitly represented in standard task list content. It is behavior-analytic in nature, grounded in functional contextualism, and teaches practitioners to identify critical consent-related behaviors, use decision-making trees and preference assessments, and facilitate learner-centered consent exchanges based on observable repertoires. The course is specifically designed for certified and aspiring behavior analysts, offering empirically informed, ethically grounded strategies to honor autonomy, reduce coercion, and support authentic consent development across the lifespan. Moreover, strategies for addressing consent in ABA contexts are highlighted throughout the curriculum.

Publication Date: June 2025

This Ethics course provides 2 Ethics CEU credits for BACB, QABA, and IBAO. In summary, understanding consent in ABA is vital for practitioners focused on autonomy and ethical compliance.