SOME ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF SHORT‐TERM WORKSHOPS IN THE PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION1

Abstract

Workshops and seminars to expose different sectors of the professional community to the principles and applications of behavior modification are briefly discussed. The possible misapplication of procedures by conference participants, whose only exposure to behavioral methods has been at these workshops is viewed as a potentially serious ethical issue. It is suggested that the goals of such seminars and workshops must be clarified, and methods of evaluation of the participants' skills devised, lest we contribute to the misapplication of procedures and to the criticism that behavioral methods are unethical approaches to treatment.