Ethical Implications of Behavior Modification: Historical and Current Issues

A number of social factors are combining to raise the profile of ethical issues for behavior analysts and behavior-modification professionals, as for all psychologists. Some popular misconceptions have led to behavior modification being seen as coercive. These misconceptions are rebutted, and the ethical basis of behavior modification in behavioral analysis is examined. The key features of contemporary behavioral analysis and behavior modification are the public specification of objectives and methods, and the use of functional analysis. However, current problems with functional analysis may make the use of higher order principles such as professional codes of ethics appropriate. Ethical concerns raised by the particular examples of social validity measures and parent training programs are reviewed. These emphasize the importance of putting behavior modification into its social context and thus ensuring that the values of the wider community are acknowledged.

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Behavior Modification

Behavior Modification

Ethical Issues in Functional Assessment

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Authors and Affiliations

1. School of Behavioral Science, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT37 0QB, UK Julian C. Leslie

1. Julian C. Leslie

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I am indebted to Ronny Swain and Bryan Roche for their incisive comments on an earlier version of this paper. Reprint requests may be sent to J. C. Leslie, School of Behavioral Science, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland BT37 DaB, UK. (Email: JC.Leslie@ulst.ac.uk)

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Leslie, J.C. Ethical Implications of Behavior Modification: Historical and Current Issues. Psychol Rec 47, 637–648 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395250

• Published : 27 May 2017
• Issue Date : October 1997
• DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395250

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