Sigrid S. Glenn

Sigrid S. Glenn is a conceptual behavior analyst, researcher, and founder of the first-ever department of behavior analysis. As a researcher, her most notable contribution is the concept of metacontingencies, a unit of analysis that allows researchers to study culture using a behavioral contingencies framework.

Career Glenn was introduced to behavior analysis in 1969 by Donald Whaley, who was the first psychology faculty member at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas [UNT]). Glenn continued her studies until graduating with a PhD in clinical psychology. Initially, Glenn focused on clinical work with individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism. She worked at the Center for Behavioral Studies at North Texas State and the Behavior Exchange Clinic.

In 1985, Glenn focused on developing the Department of Behavior Analysis at UNT. Glenn was the program's founding chair. As she taught courses, Glenn began thinking about conceptual issues in behavior analysis, which led to development of metacontingencies. She conducted research and published numerous papers on the topic, and later established the Behavior and Culture Lab at UNT.

Glenn is past president of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis. Association for Behavior Analysis International: Fellow California Association for Behavior Analysis: Outstanding Contributions to Behavior Analysis

Selected works

Glenn, S., Malott, M., Andery, M., Benvenuti, M., Ramona, H., Sandaker, I., Todorov, J., Tourinho, E., & Vasconcelos, L. (2020). Toward Consistent Terminology in a Behaviorist Approach to Cultural Analysis (pp. 23–41). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45421-0_2 Glenn, S. S. (1988). Contingencies and Metacontingencies: Toward a Synthesis of Behavior Analysis and Cultural Materialism. The Behavior Analyst, 11(2), 161–179. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392470 Glenn, S. S. (2004). Individual behavior, culture, and social change. The Behavior Analyst, 27(2), 133–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393175