The Pioneering Role of Women from Universidade Estadual de Londrina in the Dissemination of Behavior Analysis in Brazil

Abstract

Behavior analysis arrived in Brazil in the 1960s with Fred Keller's teachings. His demonstrations of the basic principles of behavior and their applications influenced undergraduate and graduate students who were instrumental in consolidating behavior analysis as a line of study and practice in Brazilian universities. Keller's followers spread across the country to different geographic regions of Brazil. In the South, the Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL) established its undergraduate psychology program rooted in behavior theory and the experimental analysis of behavior. As one of the first university programs formed by behavior analyst in Brazil, UEL was instrumental in the dissemination and consolidation of the science of behavior in the country. In Brazil, psychology programs often have a high representation of women, with 75% of students being female. This significant presence of women in the field emphasizes their influential role in the dissemination of behavior analysis. This article is an overview of the role of women faculty in developing and advancing the behavior analysis program at UEL. It provides a historical account from the establishment of UEL until the graduate programs in behavior analysis within the psychology program. The contribution of crucial women behavior analysts to the maintenance of the program and their efforts in training students are highlighted.