The second edition of Nonlinear Contingency Analysis gives professionals a powerful framework for understanding complex behavior, and this companion volume shows clinicians exactly what happens when that framework is applied to children, families, adults, and animals facing challenging circumstances.
Case Studies and Applications in Nonlinear Contingency Analysis provides vivid examples and step-by-step case analyses that you can adapt to your own practice. Every case shows how constructional, non-coercive interventions succeed where eliminative models fail. These aren’t abstract theories—they’re replicable roadmaps for transforming behavior across clinical, educational, organizational, and animal settings.
Whether you work in mental health, education, behavior analysis, or animal training, Case Studies and Applications in Nonlinear Contingency Analysis shows how constructional, freedom-expanding interventions can transform lives. If you want to see how nonlinear contingency analysis works in practice—and how to use it yourself—this is the book you need by your side.
Table of Contents:
1. Emotions and Emotional Behavior: A Consequential Analysis and Treatment 2. Emotions in the Time of a Pandemic: Beyond Cognition and Behavior 3. A Contingency Analytic Approach to Understanding and Teaching Emotions 4. A Case-series of Constructional Exposure Therapy with a Child with Autism 5. Constructional Exposure Therapy: Developing Functional Repertoires in Historically Distressing Contexts 6. Problem-Solving a CET Program: Hygiene Skills and Autism 7. Severe Challenging Behavior: A Constructional and Nonlinear Contingency Approach 8.Treating Severe OCD and Aggression in Autism: Working with Parents 9. Building Psychomotor Foundations: A Constructional Approach to Gross Motor Fluency 10. The Play Loop: A Constructional Approach to Engaging Children 11. Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone: A Constructional Approach to Understanding Separation Related Behaviors in Dogs 12. The Constructional Approach and Nonlinear Contingency Analysis Revolutionizing Zoo Animal Behavior and Training 13. Assuring Genuine Assent in Clinical Practice with Children 14. The Rationality of Violent Cults: A Nonlinear Contingency Analysis 15. Private Experience, or Simply Experience? 16. The Natural Operation of the Parts Upon Each Other: Lessons in Aggression, Cooperation, and Social Design from the Experimental Chamber
About the Author :
Awab Abdel-Jalil, PhD, MS, BCBA, is an applied researcher at Upstate Caring Partners and an educator with extensive scholarship and presentations on nonlinear contingency analysis, constructional approaches, and assent-based interventions.
Anna M. Linnehan, PhD, BCBA-D, is an assistant professor at Endicott College who has numerous publications and presentations on constructional and nonlinear contingency analyses of complex behavior and on emotions and assent-based practice.
Review :
“This book is a pivotal contribution that advances behavioral science while centering dignity, autonomy, and participation. It offers applications across domains, from clinical work with autistic children and families to animal training, education, social systems, and culture. It’s a valuable resource for understanding behavior through multiple contingencies and fostering assent.”
Celia Heyman, PhD, BCBA-D, Capella University and FTF Behavioral Consulting
“This is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to deepen understanding and application of behavioral science. I’m often asked by animal trainers for recommendations on NCA and the constructional approach, and resources like this are rare. The contributors have created a cross-species collection that reframes sustainable behavior change and ethical problem-solving. It belongs on the shelves of behavior analysts, clinicians, educators, and animal trainers who are committed to humane, constructional solutions.”
Hillary Hankey, Avian Behavior Conservancy and Avian Behavior Lab
“This book showcases the breadth and power of the constructional approach. Across domains from emotions and autism to psychotherapy and social systems, contributors show how ‘problematic’ behavior can reflect rational adaptation within complex, nonlinear contingencies. Blending theory with applied examples, the book moves beyond deficit models toward environments that expand choice, competence, and dignity.”
R. Trent Codd III, EdS, CBT Collective
“There has been renewed interest in NCA and the constructional approach, and this book brings these approaches to life through applications that help practitioners assess and treat many circumstances in humane ways. Case Studies and Applications in Nonlinear Contingency Analysis will help practitioners analyze contingencies and identify creative solutions that lead to meaningful outcomes and enhance quality of life.”
Mary Jane Weiss, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, Institute for Applied Behavioral Science at Endicott College
