Ethics for Behaviorists

Abstract

The contemporary field of behavior modification, roughly consisting of the combined technologies of behavior therapy and applied behavior analysis, is now confronting a number of issues which might be described as "ethical." And the way that these issues have been conceptualized and the nature of the suggested directions the field might take in light of them differ depending upon whether the commentors are radical behaviorists or, for lack of a better word, conventional ones. I would like to compare and contrast these two approaches. To do this requires that one must once again attempt to define "radical behaviorism". Behavior modifiers who manipulate food to control behavior should consider the possible health effects of such programs as well as the behavioral ones. In other circumstances, such reinforcers can cause more than long term health problems than would be counterbalanced by their immediate behavioral effects. Behavior modifiers can make great contributions to positive health practices, and are beginning to do so, but we had better make sure our own back porches are clean in this regard before we go out once again offering our sweeping skills to others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)