Of Eagles and Worms

Abstract

In designing and practicing behavioral management methods effectively, both the finely directed focus of the worm and the broad perspective of the eagle are essential. Early successes of behavioral applications were constrained by failure to see the big picture, in terms of what the problem really was, what explained its evolution and persistence and from where the sources of the most powerful contingencies stemmed. A number of examples in education, human services, industry and other organizations are supplied to demonstrate that when the larger picture is examined first, it is possible to discover those powerful sources and intervene to optimize their influence in support of productive and durable change.

Key Words:

• Meta and molecular behavioral contingencies