Abstract
In the field of applied behavior analysis, professionals are likely to interact with transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people, either as clients, in a supervision context, in the university classroom, or in the workplace. This paper presents a self-assessment checklist tool that can be used to assess one’s current behaviors of TGNC-affirming practices, along with guidance for using the tool to achieve growth in this area.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Almeida, J., Johnson, R. M., Corliss, H. L., Molnar, B. E., & Azrael, D. (2009). Emotional distress among LGBT youth: The influence of perceived discrimination based on sexual orientation. Journal of Youth and Adolescents, 38(7), 1001–1014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-009-9397-9.
American Medical Association. (2018). Health care needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer populations (Report No. H-160.991). Retrieved from https://policysearch.amaassn.org/policyfinder/detail/transgender?uri=%2FAMADoc%2FHOD.xml-0-805.xml.
American Psychological Association. (2008). Answers to your questions: For a better understanding of sexual orientation and homosexuality.
American Psychological Association. (2011). Answers to your questions about transgender people, gender identity, and gender expression. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender.pdf.
American Psychological Association. (2015). Guidelines for psychological practice with transgender and gender nonconforming people. American Psychologist, 70(9), 832–864.
Andrade, H., & Du, Y. (2007). Student responses to criteria-referenced self-assessment. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 32, 159–181. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602930600801928.
Aultman, B. (2014). Cisgender. TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, 1(1–2), 61–62. https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-2399614.
Badgett, M. V. L., Durso, L. E., Kastanis, A., & Mallory, C. (2013). The business impact of LGBT-inclusive policies. Williams Institute UCLA School of Law to UCLA, The William Intsitute. Retrieved from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Business-Impact-LGBT-Policies-Full-Report-May-2013.pdf.
Bagemihl, B. (1999). Biological exuberance: Animal homosexuality and natural diversity. New York: St. Martin's.
Bauer, G. R., Scheim, A. I., Pyne, J., Travers, R., & Hammond, R. (2015). Intervenable factors associated with suicide risk in transgender persons: A respondent driven sampling study in Ontario, Canada. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 525. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1867-2.
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2017). Guidelines for responsible conduct for behavior analysts. Retrieved from https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/170706r_compliance_code_english.pdf.
Bockting, W. O., Miner, M. H., Swinburne Romaine, R. E., Hamilton, A., & Coleman, E. (2013). Stigma, mental health, and resilience in an online sample of the U.S. transgender population. American Journal of Public Health, 103(5), 943–951. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301241.
Budge, S. L., Adelson, J. L., & Howard, K. A. S. (2013). Anxiety and depression in transgender individuals: The roles of transition status, loss, social support, and coping. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 81(3), 545. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031774.
Catalyst. (2014). Diversity matters. New York, NY: Author. Retrieved from https://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/diversity-matters.
Clements-Nolle, K., Marx, R., & Katz, M. (2006). Attempted suicide among transgender persons: The influence of gender based discrimination and victimization. Journal of Homosexuality, 51(3), 53–69. https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v51n03_04.
Cooper, J., Heron, T., & Heward, W. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Daniel, H., & Butkus, R. (2015). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health disparities: Executive summary of a policy position paper from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 163(2), 135–137. https://doi.org/10.7326/M14-2482.
De Vries, A. L. C., Steensma, T. D., Doreleijers, T. A. H., & Cohen-Kettenis, P. T. (2011). Puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder: A prospective follow-up study. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8(8), 2276–2283. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-2958.
Deutsch, M. B. (2016). Guidelines for the primary and gender-affirming care of transgender and gender nonbinary people (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco. Retrieved from www.transhealth.ucsf.edu/guidelines.
Drummond, K. D., Bradley, S. J., Peterson-Badali, M., & Zucker, K. J. (2008). A follow-up study of girls with gender identity disorder. Developmental Psychology, 44(1), 34–45. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.44.1.34.
Flores, A. R., Herman, J. L., Gates, G. J., & Brown, T. N. T. (2016). How many adults identify as transgender in the United States? Los Angeles, CA: The Williams Institute.
Fong, E. H., Catagnus, R. M., Brodhead, M. T., Quigley, S. P., & Field, S. (2016). Developing the cultural awareness skills of behavior analysts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9(1), 84–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-016-0111-6.
Grant, J. M., Mottet, L. A., Tanis, J., Harrison, J., Herman, J. L., & Keisling, M. (2011). Injustice at every turn: A report of the national transgender discrimination survey. National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. https://www.transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/resources/NTDS_Report.pdf.
Gridley, S. J., Crouch, J. M., Evans, Y., Eng, W., Antoon, E., Lyapustina, M., et al. (2016). Youth and caregiver perspectives on barriers to gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 59(3), 254–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.03.017.
James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). Executive summary of the report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. Retrieved from www.transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/Executive%20Summary%20-%20FINAL%201.6.17.pdf.
Koken, J. A., Bimbi, D. S., & Parsons, J. T. (2009). Experiences of familial acceptance and rejection among transwomen of color. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(6), 853. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017198.
Leland, W. (2016). Affirming atypical gender reinforcers and preferences. Sexual Behavior: Research and Practice Newsletter, 9, 5–7.
Lillis, J., & Hayes, S. C. (2007). Applying acceptance, mindfulness, and values to the reduction of prejudice: A pilot study. Behavior Modification, 31(4), 389–411. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445506298413.
Mace, F. C., & Kratochwill, T. R. (1988). Self-monitoring. In J. C. Witt, S. N. Elliot, & F. M. Gresham (Eds.), Handbook of behavior therapy in education. Boston, MA: Springer.
Malott, R. (2015). Sexuality. In R. Malott (Ed.), Principles of behavior (pp. 1–14). New York: Psychology Press. Retrieved from http://old.dickmalott.com/booksarticles/pbe6/webchapters/Chapter_26A_Revised_S08.doc.
Miltenberger, R. (2004). Behaviour modification: Principals and procedure (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.
Montgomery, W. (2001). Creating culturally responsive, inclusive class-rooms. Teaching Exceptional Children, 33(4), 4–9.https://doi.org/10.1177/004005990103300401.
National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. (2011). Injustice at every turn. Retrieved from https://endtransdiscrimination.org.
Nordyke, N. S., Baer, D. M., Etzel, B. C., & LeBlanc, J. M. (1977). Implications of the stereotyping and modification of sex roles. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10(3), 553–557. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1977.10-553.
Olson, K. R., Durwood, L., & McLaughlin, K. A. (2016). Mental health of transgender children who are supported in their identities. Pediatrics, 137(3), e20153223. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-3223.
Rekers, G., & Lovaas, O. (1974). Behavioral treatment of deviant sex-role behaviors in a male child. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 7, 173–190. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1974.7-173.
Rekers, G. A. (1977). Atypical gender development and psychosocial adjustment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10(3), 559–571. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1977.10-559.
Richards, C., Bouman, W. P., Seal, L., Barker, M. J., Nieder, T. O., & T’Sjoen, G. (2016). Non-binary or genderqueer genders. International Review of Psychiatry, 28(1), 95–102. https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2015.1106446.
Ross, J. (2006). The reliability, validity, and utility of self-assessment. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 11(10), 1- 13. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.35.6.658.
Roysircar, G. (2004). Cultural self-awareness assessment: Practice examples from psychology training. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35(6), 658–666. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.35.6.658.
Russell, A., & Winkler, R. (1977). Evaluation of assertive training and homosexual guidance service groups designed to improve homosexual functioning. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0045239.
Russell, S. T., Ryan, C., Toomey, R. B., Diaz, R. M., & Sanchez, J. (2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescent school victimization: Implications for young adult health and adjustment. Journal of School Health, 81(5), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00583.x.
Ryan, C., Russell, S., Huebner, D., Diaz, R., & Sanchez, J. (2010). Family acceptance in adolescence and the health of LGBT young adults. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 23(4), 205–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2010.00246.x.
Scasta, D., Bialer, P., & American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Position statement on issues related to homosexuality. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved from: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/search-directories-databases/policy-finder.
Simons, L., Schrager, S. M., Clark, L. F., Belzer, M., & Olson, J. (2013). Parental support and mental health among transgender adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(6), 791–793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.07.019.
Tervalon, M., & Murray-Garcia, J. (1998). Cultural humility versus cultural competence: A critical distinction in defining physician training outcomes in multicultural education. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 9(2), 117–125. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2010.0233.
Wallien, M. S., & Cohen-Kettenis, P. T. (2008). Psychosexual outcome of gender-dysphoric children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(12), 1413–1423. https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e31818956b9.
Wang-Jones, T. T. S., Alhassoon, O. M., Hattrup, K., Ferdman, B. M., & Lowman, R. L. (2017). Development of gender identity implicit association tests to assess attitudes toward transmen and transwomen. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 4(2), 169–183. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000218.
Whitman, J. S., Glosoff, H. L., Kocet, M. M., & Tarvydas, V. (2006). Exploring ethical issues related to conversion or reparative therapy. Counseling Today, 49(1),14–15. www.academia.edu/download/8061041/article_ethical_issues-and-reparativetherapy.doc.
Winkler, R. C. (1977). What types of sex-role behavior should behavior modifiers promote? Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10(3), 549–552. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1977.10-549.
World Professional Association for Transgender Health. (2011). World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care. Version 7. International Journal of Transgenderism, 13(4), 165–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/15532739.2011.700873.
Funding
This article does not contain any funded research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Approval
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animal participants performed by any of the authors.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leland, W., Stockwell, A. A Self-Assessment Tool for Cultivating Affirming Practices With Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming (TGNC) Clients, Supervisees, Students, and Colleagues. Behav Analysis Practice 12, 816–825 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00375-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00375-0