Is it true that sleep training is considered a target for behavior analysis?

Sleep training is not typically considered a target for behavior analysis because behavior analysis primarily focuses on observable behavior and measurable changes. While it is acknowledged that sleep can impact behavior and that certain behavioral interventions may influence sleep patterns, the direct training of sleep habits is not within the primary scope of behavior analytic interventions. Instead, behavior analysis focuses on reducing maladaptive behaviors, increasing adaptive skills, and teaching functional communication, often applied to learning environments and modifications of behavior in a clinical or educational context.

While there may be cases in which a behavior analyst might address issues related to sleep within a broader behavioral intervention (such as decreasing daytime behaviors that may influence sleep patterns), sleep training as a standalone target does not align with the core objectives of behavior analysis. This clarification helps differentiate the scope of behavior analysis from practices like sleep training, even though behavior analysts may work in contexts where sleep issues are relevant.