Interlocking Behavioral Contingencies
Explore how our behavior becomes part of someone else’s environment—and how those interconnected contingencies can shape relationships, clinical interactions, and workplace culture.
1 General CEU
About This CEU
Interlocking Behavioral Contingencies explores how behavior occurs within interconnected social environments, where one person’s behavior can influence—and be influenced by—the behavior of others. Participants will examine IBCs through a behavior-analytic lens and explore how bidirectional contingencies can develop and maintain patterns of behavior across relationships.
Using examples from caregiver, coworker, and clinical relationships, participants will learn to identify interlocking contingencies and consider how their own behavior may become part of another person’s environment. The course then moves from identification to practical strategies for strengthening relationships, including pairing, authentic relationship building, motivational interviewing, supportive team environments, and regular communication.
Learning Objectives
01 IDENTIFY
Identify interlocking behavioral contingencies and describe how the behavior of two or more individuals can function as part of each other’s environment.
02 ANALYZE
Analyze interlocking behavioral contingencies within caregiver, coworker, and clinical relationships to identify how reciprocal patterns of behavior may be maintained.
02 APPLY
Apply strategies such as pairing, authentic interactions, motivational interviewing, and supportive communication to strengthen interactions with caregivers and team members.
Meet Your Instructors
M. Beth Gartland, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA
Beth has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2000, beginning her career as a behavior technician before becoming a BCaBA in 2003 and a BCBA in 2009. Her experience spans autism services, traumatic brain injury, at-risk youth, clinical leadership, and quality assurance. With a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Beth is especially interested in how workplace systems, supervision, and organizational practices influence the people providing behavioral services and the quality of care they deliver.
Nicole Kanew, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Nicole has extensive experience across clinical leadership, public schools, home- and clinic-based services, and residential care. She currently serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations at JoyBridge Kids, where she supports clinical directors and staff with an emphasis on workplace culture, employee performance, and high-quality clinical care. Previously, Nicole served as the lead behavior analyst for a Tennessee public school district, where staff training was a central part of her work. A graduate of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Nicole is passionate about developing practitioners’ clinical, communication, and leadership skills and creating supportive environments where both clinicians and clients can thrive.