Ethical Issues

1. Ethical Issues Chapter 30

2. Historical Implications • Cultural history and personal experiences with others abusing power, taught people to react negatively to behavior modification • This term evokes many negative feelings

3. Behavioral View of Ethics • Ethics – standards of behavior developed by culture to promote the survival of that culture • Ethical guidelines are an important source of behavioral control when immediate reinforcers influence individual to behave in a way that leads to aversive stimuli for others • When members of the same culture learn to follow the same ethical guidelines, the guidelines exert rule-governed control over behavior

4. Arguments Against Deliberately Controlling Behavior • Because of history and experiences, some have argued that all attempts to control behavior are unethical • Goal of any social help profession involve change in behavior and behavior control • It is often necessary to change, manage, influence, or control behavior • It is necessary to ensure that it is done ethically

5. Ethical Guidelines • Organizations that have addressed ethical guidelines involved in behavior modification: • Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy (AABT) • American Psychological Association (APA) • Association for Behavior Analysis (ABA)

6. Ethical Guidelines • Based on: • 1977, Behavior Therapy, publication of set of ethical questions to ask • 1978, Stolz & Associates, a comprehensive report on ethical issues involved in behavior modification • 1988, Van Houten et al., The Behavior Analyst, published a statement of clients’ rights • 2002, American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

7. Ethical Considerations • Qualifications of the Behavior Modifier • Must receive appropriate training – academic and supervised practical training • Procedures being used are the most up-to-date • Steps to ensure countercontrol and accountability: • Supervision by members of ABA, AABT, or both • Various certification programs

8. Ethical Considerations • Definition of Problem and Selection of goals • Target behaviors selected must be most important for client and society • Emphasis on teaching functional, age-appropriate skills • For those with handicaps, focus on teaching skills that promote independent functioning • Goals should be consistent with the basic rights of the client to dignity, privacy, and humane care • Steps to ensure countercontrol and accountability: • Require behavior modifier to clearly specify his or her values relating to client's problems • Client as an active participant in the selection of goals and identification of target behaviors

9. Ethical Considerations • Selection of Treatment Method • Use the most effective, empirically validated methods with the least discomfort and fewest negative side effects • Use least intrusive and restrictive interventions • No agreement on a continuum of intrusiveness or restrictiveness • Interventions based on positive reinforcement considered less intrusive than interventions based on aversive control • Intrusive and restrictive sometimes refer to the extent to which clients are given choices and allowed freedom of movement in a therapeutic environment • Intrusive and restrictive sometimes refer to the extent to which consequences are deliberately managed as opposed to naturally occurring • Steps to ensure countercontrol and accountability • Informed consent • Ethical review committees

10. Ethical Considerations • Record Keeping and Ongoing Evaluation • Maintenance of accurate data throughout the program • Behavioral assessment before the program • Ongoing monitoring of target behavior • Possible side-effects • Appropriate follow-up evaluation after treatment • Confidentiality to be respected at all times • Steps to ensure countercontrol and accountability: • Client access to records • Frequent discussions with client about progress in the program • Periodic peer evaluation of data