Swedish ABA – 2025 Chapter Update – Inside Behavior Analysis

By Dag Strömberg

The Swedish Association for Behavior Analysis (SWABA) had 243 members at the end of 2024, a 2% increase since 2023. The chapter continued its activity on social media; at the end of 2024, 1711 people were following SWABA on Facebook, a 2% increase since 2023. The association also has accounts on LinkedIn and Instagram, all with an increasing number of followers.

SWABA’s fall meeting took place September 7^th, 2024, in Gothenburg, as a hybrid event. We enjoyed presentations on various topics in Swedish by Gustav Jonsson, Linda Eklund, Maria Härnesand, Elin Mellgren, Tove Kihl, Eva Bertilsson, Johanna Edervall, and Hedvig Zetterberg. Furthermore, an invited international speaker, Francesca Degli Espinosa (Italy/UK), presented on assent in behavioral interventions.

The annual meeting took place March 15th, 2025, in Stockholm, again a hybrid event. The day included three presentations: on learning psychology, machine learning and AI by Robert Johansson; on PAX for children with special needs by Maria Jornevald; and on OBM by Martin Carlström.

During the year, the president of SWABA participated in a network that meets twice per year, connecting five different Swedish associations for behavior analysis, contextual behavior science and/or various types of behavior therapy. For the first time, this network collaboratively published an online magazine called “Samlad kraft” (Joined forces) in March 2025, including contributions from all associations.

SWABA was also collaborating with representatives from the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden), discussing quality assurance of behavior analysis within a Nordic context, in the context of the newly created Nordic Association of Behavior Analysts. A major goal during the year was the establishment of common ethical guidelines.

SWABA was represented at the 2025 ABAI Annual Convention in Washington, DC. As usual, a poster was presented at the ABAI Expo.

Our association supports the formation of special interest groups, providing information about each group on the website. This year the Certified Behavior Analysts SIG had meetings, and a journal club, while some of the other groups had contacts through social media.

SWABA would like to encourage anyone who plans to visit Sweden or other countries in Scandinavia to contact the board (info@swaba.se), to explore the possibility of meeting and/or lecturing. SWABA holds its annual meeting during the first quarter of each year and a fall meeting/conference in September or October. In October 2025, a fall meeting will take place in Stockholm, including various presentations in Swedish and/or English. Please visit the SWABA website for updates concerning the program.