Thomas G. Szabo

Bio:

Thomas G. Szabo, PhD., BCBA-D is a professor at the Florida Institute of Technology. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno under the mentorship of W. Larry Williams and Steven C. Hayes. Over the last 15 years, Tom has sought to develop iterations of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy suitable to the needs of ABA practitioners and within their specialized scope of practice. He has offered ACT training to parents, children, senior executives and frontline staff, and couples learning effective partner skills. With his students, Dr. Szabo is currently investigating ACT and RFT strategies to promote learning and improved performance as well as Prosocial in the workplace. Dr. Szabo is also the second chair of an international non-governmental organization, Commit & Act, which teaches women, children, and couples in Sierra Leone behavior-based strategies for partnership and empowerment. He has published empirical and conceptual papers, book chapters and is currently writing a skills manual for behavior analysts learning ACT.

Abstract:

CONCLUSION
Designing Organizations with Love: An ACT Prosocial Framework for Social Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion

Evolutionary and behavioral theorists have proposed parallel selective processes at the levels of species, individual behavior, and group cultural practices. Advantages selected for at one level may lead to disadvantages at the others, leading to poor outcomes for all. Nevertheless, groups can self-organize in ways that balance within- and between- group selections to the benefit of the individual, group, species, and planet. The ACT Prosocial framework is such a process; it involves designing for the future by looking to the past and positively reinforcing others’ contributions as a special class of what Skinner called “loving your enemies.” In a Prosocial implementation process, diverse members of the group are included, and their voices are actively sought when solving problems. Among other desired outcomes, this process promotes diversity, inclusion, and social justice.