Storytelling and Behavior Analysis: A Shared Foundation

Behavior analysis and storytelling might seem like separate disciplines, but they share a fundamental connection—both shape behavior through carefully arranged contingencies. Our field’s history includes powerful narratives, none more influential than Catherine Maurice’s Let Me Hear Your Voice, a firsthand account that introduced countless families to behavior analysis. Storytelling has always been a vehicle for disseminating science, yet we often underestimate its strategic role in shaping public perception and policy. I’ve spent years leveraging narrative in behavior analysis, whether through filmmaking, multimedia dissemination, or large-scale data analysis. When capturing discussions with thought leaders like Steven C. Hayes—one of the most highly cited researchers across all sciences—I’ve seen firsthand how behavior analysis is still defining its larger story. Skinner’s last words highlight this ongoing evolution: “A better ...