Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology

 

Formal Specialty Definition: 

 

The specialty of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology emphasizes an experimental-clinical approach to the application of behavioral and cognitive sciences to understanding human behavior and developing interventions to enhance health and well being.  Behavioral and Cognitive psychologists engage in research, education, training, and clinical practice regarding a wide range of problems and populations.

 

The distinct focus of behavioral psychology is twofold: (a) its heavy reliance on an empirical approach; and (b) its theoretical grounding in learning and behavioral analysis theories, broadly defined, including respondent conditioning, operant learning, social learning, cognitive sciences, and information processing models.

Currently, there are four sub-areas of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology which share theoretical foundations in learning theory and a common approach to case conceptualization: applied behavior analysis, behavior therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy, and cognitive therapy.

 

Empiricism is a hallmark of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology; consequently it relies heavily on those assessment and intervention procedures that have been found to be empirically supported.

 

Bylaws:

 

Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology Specialty Council

 

Levels of Specialty Training: 

 

Education, Training, and Supervision in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology is available at the Postdoctoral level, or at the Post-Licensure Level, as a major area of study. 

 

Specialty Board Certification: 

 

Board Certification in Behavioral Psychology is available through the American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology (ABBCP – formerly the American Board of Behavioral Psychology), which is a Specialty Board of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

 

In addition, psychologists and other professionals can seek board certification in applied behavior analysis through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®); the BACB certifies behavior analysts. The BACB certification is not psychological certification; instead, the BACB’s certification reflects the practice of applied behavior analysis in a variety of professional fields. This description is provided solely to distinguish the scope of the BACB's certification from that of ABPP, and should not be taken to indicate endorsement of the position that the practice of applied behavior analysis is distinct from psychology; in fact, the above description of the specialty Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology incorporates applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a part of this specialty's psychological competencies. 

 

Sources of Specialty Recognition: 

 

1. APA/CRSPPP recognition

2. ABPP recognition

 

Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology Specialty Council Membership: 

 

• American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology

• Division 25, Behavior Analysis, of the American Psychological Association 

• Division 33, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/Autism Spectrum Disorders, of the American Psychological Association 

• Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (Non-Psychological)

• Association for Behavior Analysis International (Non-Psychological)

• Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (Non-Psychological)

• Behavior Analyst Certification Board (Non-Psychological)

 

Membership on the Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology Specialty Council in no way should be taken as an endorsment of any position taken by any one member organization. Nor does membership on this Specialty Council indicate any endorsement of any member organization by the Council of Specialties in Professional Psychology.  Any member organization of any specialty council is expected to abide by mission of CoS and its by-laws in order for the specialty council to be recognized and seated as a member of CoS. 

 

Specialty Related Web Links: 

 

• Association for Behavior Analysis International

• Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

• Behavior Analyst Certification Board

• Association of Professional Behavior Analysts

• American Board of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology

• Academy of Cognitive Therapy

• International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy

• Division 25, Behavior Analysis, of the American Psychological Association

• Historical Perspectives on Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology

 

Education and Training Guidelines: 

 

• Education and Training Guidelines for Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology at the Post-Doctoral Level

• Professional Psychology: Research and Practice Article on the Specialty of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology

• Guidelines for Doctoral Psychology Programs Incorporating Cognitive and Behavioral Education and Training

• Behavior Therapy Published Guidelines for Cognitive Behavioral Training Within Doctoral Psychology Programs in the United States

• BACB Position on Psychologists and Applied Behavior Analysis

• APBA Position on Psychologists and Applied Behavior Analysis

• ABCBP Guidelines for Specialists with Competency in Applied Behavior Analysis

• Taxonomy for Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Task Force Guidelines

• Training Guidelines and Taxonomy for Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology

 

Representative: 

Linda Carter Sobell, PhD, ABPP