Hike Your Own Hike: Cosmopolitanism and Applied Behavior Analysis Explored Through SPN

Caitlin Brianna Walsh, University of Vermont

Abstract

Ever since I started working with animals, I felt an intrinsic motivation to develop relationships based on trust and mutual admiration. Working in the horse world, I became dismayed at the coercive methods used to assure progress and achieve competition goals. I moved to Burlington to pursue a career helping children. Working as a behavior interventionist I felt peace and satisfaction as I utilized my previous skills and knowledge learned from my work with animals and my undergraduate education. After about a year of work, I started to become frustrated and dismayed at the treatment of some of our children. This SPN thesis is an exploration of those challenges and who I wish to become as I move forward in my career.