Sonia Goltz, professor of organizational behavior and the Mickus Endowed Faculty Fellow in Business Impact in the College of Business, applies behavior analysis concepts and principles to examine and understand the topics of power, coercion, and toxic leadership, as well as organizational change. Goltz has also conducted research in gender equity and its legal aspects. Her work, along with her community allyship, was recognized with the 2021 Michigan Tech Diversity Award.
The publication of Goltz’s 2022 paper, “On Power and Freedom: Extending the Definition of Coercion,” in the journal Perspectives on Behavior Analysis, prompted great interest among her colleagues and has led to numerous opportunities to present her research to organizations focused on behavior analysis.
Today, Goltz is exploring the topic of coercion and freedom, an extension of her previous work on power and equity. This year she published her paper, “An analysis of types and targets of coercive interference,” in the Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology.
Goltz has been invited to speak at the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis in spring 2025.
Goltz also presented her research at the 2024 Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan (BAAM) Conference. In 2023, she presented a webinar titled, “What About Coercive Interference with Positive Freedom?” for the Association for Behavior Analysis International. And in 2022, she presented her lecture,” Coercion is Going Undercover: Can Behavior Analysis Unveil the Disguise?” at the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis.
Goltz’s talks often fulfill ethics continuing education requirements for attendees seeking continuing education unit (CEU) credits.
Researcher Keeps the Conversation Fresh and Relevant
Goltz doesn’t like to repeat her presentations, so she typically uses her speaking engagements to stimulate new thinking, which often results in another paper and a new presentation. For example, a discussion of coercion and toxic leadership at her spring 2024 BAAM lecture is informing a future presentation at the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis
Goltz’s interest in behavior analysis was inspired by her father, who instructed troubled youth at the Indiana Boys School in Plainfield, Indiana. Goltz said that his use of rewards and reinforcement to motivate his students prompted a psychology professor at the University of Indianapolis to visit his classroom to learn more about the approach. That professor would become Goltz’s main undergraduate advisor when she attended the University of Indianapolis a few years later, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology Goltz went on to earn her master’s and doctoral degrees in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Purdue University.
Goltz began her career at the University of Notre Dame, joining Michigan Tech in 1996. In addition to teaching and research, she is active in several academic and business communities. She has served as director of business graduate programs at Michigan Tech. She is an editorial board member for the Journal of Management Education and the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management. Goltz also consults for local organizations, including the Portage Lake District Library and LaSalle Technology Group.
Presentation Citations
In addition to the citations listed here, publications Goltz has authored and co-authored can be accessed via Michigan Tech Digital Commons.
- Goltz, S.M. “Toxic Leadership in Behavioral Terms: The Reliance on Coercion and Countercontrol.” Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan Conference, Ypsilanti, MI, February 22, 2024.
- Goltz, S. “What About Coercive Interference with Positive Freedom?” Webinar. Association for Behavior Analysis International, Sept. 19, 2023.
- Goltz, S. “Coercion is Going Undercover: Can Behavior Analysis Unveil the Disguise?” Presented at the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis, Reno, Nevada, October 15, 2022.
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