In this episode of ABA On Call, we kick off our new series, They Got It Wrong, by dissecting the legacy of Sigmund Freud and his controversial theory of psychoanalysis. Despite its historical influence, Freud's work was built on untestable assumptions and speculative reasoning rather than empirical science. We contrast his approach with the rigorous methods of behavior analysis, highlighting the importance of falsifiability, experimental validation, and data-driven interventions. Along the way, we explore the problematic implications of psychoanalytic thinking, from the harmful "refrigerator mother" theory of autism to the permissive reinforcement of maladaptive behaviors in therapy. Join us as we discuss why Freud's ideas persist in popular culture and academia and why behavior analysis provides a more reliable and humane approach to understanding human behavior.

To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.

Show Notes:

https://www.livescience.com/why-freud-was-wrong.html

https://www.verywellmind.com/sigmund-freud-his-life-work-and-theories-2795860