Increasing Transgender-Inclusive Behaviors Via Self-Monitoring

Abstract

Within behavior analysis there is an increasing demand for research to create inclusive organizational cultures. To create a culture of inclusion, it is necessary to engage in inclusive behaviors towards individuals of varying race, gender, and sexual orientation. Despite the rising social demand and call for diversity in research, there are still few studies which apply an intervention to improve inclusive behaviors. One target of inclusive behaviors is proper pronoun use towards individuals who are transgender or gender non-conforming (TGNC). To date, there is only one published article regarding TGNC topics, which explored a TGNC-inclusive tool (Leland & Stockwell, 2019). However, there are currently no studies which implement an intervention to promote gender inclusive behaviors. Given the extreme and sometimes even life-threatening risks that are frequently associated with individuals who are TGNC, the benefits of identifying an intervention that effectively promotes inclusion and could in turn increase feelings of acceptance are undeniable. It is most certainly an area that would benefit from further research and discovery. As a science that prides itself on socially significant outcomes, extending the literature in this area would seem, at the very least, a worthwhile venture if not a responsibility. Thus, the purpose of the current study will be to examine the effects of a behavioral intervention on promoting gender inclusive behavior.