Ole Ivar Lovaas

Ole Ivar Lovaas (8 May 1927 – 2 August 2010) was a Norwegian-American clinical psychologist and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was most well known for his research on what is now called applied behavior analysis (ABA) to modify the behavior of autistic children through prompts, modeling, and positive reinforcement. His methods included the use of aversives (punishment), such as electric shocks and slaps, to reduce undesired behavior.

Lovaas' work influenced how autism is treated, and he received widespread acclaim and several awards during his lifetime, but also strong criticisms from many autistic activists and researchers aligned with the autistic rights and neurodiversity movements. Lovaas has also been criticized (including contemporaneously by other ABA researchers) for his participation in a study that tested the efficacy of conversion therapy on a 4-year-old boy. Provided by Wikipedia