ETHICS

Tristram Jones, Ph.D.Kaplan University, PS517, Unit IX

Why do we bother?• Well we have the reputation for ethics

abuses going all the way back to John B. Watson.

The very roots of behavioral study seemed tainted with cruelty!

John B Watson spent a good deal of 1920 scaring the heck out of a year-old baby named Little Albert at Johns Hopkins!

Even before that, dedicated researchers were pioneering

the concept of reinforcement!

• In Negative Reinforcement a particular behavior is strengthened by the consequence of the stopping or avoiding of a negative condition.

“Positive” Punishment?• Positive punishment occurs when a negative

consequence is applied in response to an undesired behavior. Positive punishment can decrease the likelihood that the behavior will continue.

Psychologically, World War One was essentially a PSYCHOANALYTIC

undertaking.

Then of course, there was the nasty business of World War II

World War II worsened the scientific image as German scientists worked avidly for

Hitler’s SS

And behaviorism figured strongly in the conditioning

of NAZI youth!

Soviet Psychiatry Cold War Soviet psychiatry was in the trusted hands of Dr Andrei

Snezhnevsky for decades. He invented “creeping schizophrenia” wherein schizophrenia remains latent and until it blossoms as political dissidence. Exiled Writer Vladimir Bukovsky, now at Cambridge University, notes: "This means nobody knows whether he is schizophrenic or not unless Professor Snezhnevsky diagnoses it."

SOLUTIONS WERE OFTEN BEHAVIORAL!

But BRAINWASHING made behaviorism and the “COMMIE”

menace synonymous!

Resulted also in some HOME GROWN versions!

In the 1970s the “brainwashing” associated

with Stockholm Syndrome was first noted!

What the heck is it??The syndrome is named after the Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg, Stockholm, Sweden, in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage from August 23 to August 28 in 1973. In this case, the victims became emotionally attached to their victimizers, and even defended their captors after they were freed from their six-day ordeal.

So ethics became kind of important to protect the

sample population in behaviorism!

Karen’s Code:

Six Kitchenerian ethical principles:• Autonomy: Allow self governance • Beneficence: Show kindness • Nonmaleficence: Be free of evil intent. • Justice: Fairness, equality and truthfulness • Fidelity: Honor commitments • Compassion: Authentic caring and concern.

Karen Kitchener got to work on that problem!

As you might expect, the APA and ACA ethics codes also stress

confidentiality! Exceptions are: •Child abuse or neglect

•Elder abuse or neglect•Dependent adult abuse or neglect•Serious threats to harm others•A court order compelling a therapist to testify or release therapeutic information to the court.•Serious threats to harm self or commit suicide.

And…Case consultation with other mental health professionals for the benefit of client’s therapy

And the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines include:

• RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF THE BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Analyst’s responsibility to Clients

The behavior analyst has a responsibility to operate in the best interest of clients.

Assessing BehaviorBehavior analysts refrain from misuse of assessment techniques, interventions, results, and interpretations and take reasonable steps to prevent others from misusing the information these techniques provide.

The behavior change program…

The behavior analyst minimizes the use of items as potential reinforcers that may be harmful to the long-term health of the client or participant!

Behavior Analyst as a Teacher

Function as a teacher always willing to disseminate insight!

Responsibility to the Field and Colleagues

Behavior analysts have an obligation to bring attention to and resolve ethical violations by colleagues.

I LIKE… BASEBALL!

Responsibility to SocietyThe behavior analyst promotes the general welfare of society through the application of the principles of behavior.

Undeniably, ABA is all about changing people in rather

dramatic ways!• Who decides what is

acceptable as change?• Who decides who can manage

this change?• What methods are ethical?• How can we be sure the

desired outcome is ethical?• What oversight exists?

Walker & Shea’s Guidelines:• Explore alternatives before using aversive

interventions.• Consider possible side effects• See that the subject understands the

experiment• Empirical evidence should indicate the

intervention will work• Informed consent must be obtained• Committee review of all human subjects

research

Ethical Considerations with Children

• What is a child?• Can children choose?• Where should the change take place? • Who decides what modifications will be attempted?• Who decides who should be changed?

SINGLE SUBJECT RESEARCHERS MUST CONSTANTLY ASK SUCH QUESTIONS!

Social Validity is a trendy term meaning the conditions of your intervention are acceptable

and the targeted behavior is acceptable to change. Ever since

you removed my brain myfriends avoid me!

Yes, but you no longer STAMMER!

It can also mean, sadly, that your intervention meets a current social

standard! In medieval Europe

this radical form of

aversion therapy

displayed great

Levels of SOCIAL VALIDITY!

And finally, of course, the responsibility to quit scaring people

with their real thoughts!

But WHO DECIDES what BEHAVIORISM’S responsibility

to society is?