Due to the known historical link between ABA and conversion therapy, many criticize the ABA community for not openly denouncing conversion therapy. Because it is so significantly frowned upon, it would be wise to distance themselves from conversion therapy as much as possible. Instead, people have felt that the ABA community is intentionally avoiding the topic.

Conflict Regarding Denunciation of Conversion Therapy 

Research suggests that conversion therapy causes considerable harm to anyone who is subjected to it, including PTSD, other mental health issues, and even suicide. But, the ABA community rarely acknowledges this or the significant similarities between ABA and conversion therapy. 

University of Colorado at Denver

ABA therapy and Conversion therapy were both invented by Ivar Lovaas and are fundamentally very similar in nature. This has been a significant reasons for criticism of ABA therapy, as conversion therapy has been found to be unethical by the majority of the scientific body. 


Conversion Therapy and ABA

Conine, D. E., Campau, S. C., & Petronelli, A. K. (2022). LGBTQ+ conversion therapy and applied behavior analysis: A call to action. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(1), 6-18.

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