Teaching Compassion Skills in ABA Practice | Behaviorist Book Club
Bonus Episode: Teaching Compassion Skills in ABA Practice
Episode Overview
In this episode, I review Rohrer et al.’s (2023) study, “Teaching Compassion Skills to Students of Behavior Analysis,” and explore practical ways to embed compassion training into ABA practice. We also revisit Wolf’s (1978) concept of social validity and key values from the 2020 BACB Ethics Code.
What We Cover in This Episode
Why compassion and social validity are inseparable from ABA’s mission
The struggle to define and measure empathy and compassion in ABA
Wolf’s (1978) three domains of social validity: goals, procedures, outcomes
Four core values from the 2020 BACB Ethics Code referencing compassion
Methods and findings of Rohrer et al. (2023): 11 compassion-related skills, role-play, and empathy measures
Practical tips for embedding compassionate care in supervision and coursework
Key Articles & Resources
Rohrer, R. J., Smith, K. M., & Johnson, T. L. (2023). Teaching Compassion Skills to Students of Behavior Analysis. Journal of Compassionate Behavior Analysis, 1(1), 12–27.
Wolf, M. M. (1978). Social validity: The case for subjective measurement. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11(2), 203–214.
Hojat et al. (2001): Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy—used to measure changes in empathy scores.
Episode Highlights & Reflections
Why Compassion Feels “Vague” in ABA
Behavior analysts thrive on operational definitions, yet compassion often lives in vague territory. Rohrer et al.’s work offers a concrete, teachable framework.
Wolf’s Three Pillars of Social Validity (1978)
Goals: Do clients genuinely value the outcomes?
Procedures: Are methods humane and respectful?
Outcomes: Do changes matter personally to the client?
2020 Ethics Code: Compassion Explicitly Named
The BACB emphasizes compassion and dignity as core ethical obligations, reinforcing why these skills aren’t optional “soft skills.”
About Rohrer et al. (2023)
The study investigated whether compassion skills can be operationalized and taught to graduate students in ABA.
The 11 Skills Taught
Basic Interviewing: stating you are taking notes, nodding, verbal encouragers, positive introductions
Interest in Family: acknowledging child’s strengths, asking about priorities, reflecting those priorities
Joining with Family: empathy statements, normalizing statements, partnering language
Results: Skill mastery jumped from ~50% to nearly 100%; empathy scores increased across participants.
Actionable Takeaways
Operationalize Compassion: Select 2 skills to practice in your next caregiver interview.
Self-Assess: Use empathy rating scales before and after focused training.
Prioritize Family Goals: Explicitly ask caregivers to rank top priorities during assessments.
Supervision Tip: Role-play compassion skills and provide feedback in real time.
Advocate for Training: Push for structured compassion workshops in academic and organizational settings.
Discussion Questions
Which compassion skill resonated most with you?
How do you measure social validity in your practice?
Should compassion training belong in supervision, coursework, or both?
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