Ethical Considerations in Behavior Analysis and Autism Intervention Christine M. Holland, MS BCBA [email protected].

Ethical Considerations in Behavior Analysis andAutism Intervention

Christine M. Holland, MS [email protected]

Ethical Dilemma Write down an ethical dilemma that

you may have encountered or heard about on the index card provided in the folder. It may involve:• Behavioral interventions• Interactions with clients • Interactions with other professionals

Objectives• Discuss and define ethical behavior

• Identify and discuss the ethical philosophy of B.F. Skinner as described in Skinner’s own writings and in the writings of others

• Identify and discuss additional models for resolving ethical dilemmas

• Identify and describe additional resources that are available specific to using behavior analysis in interventions for individuals on the autism spectrum

• Analyze ethical dilemmas presented in written and/or video vignettes and discuss solutions based on the “Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts” and “BCBA & BCaBA Behavior Analyst Task List”

Ethics

Morals

Values

Laws

Beliefs

Princip

les

Ideals

Utilitarianism

Deontological

Teleological

Divine Command Theory

Virtue Ethics

Care Ethics

Theories of Ethics

Universal Ethics???

http://youtu.be/rb8jSR2aMsE

Skinner’s Analysis of

Values

Practical Ethics and Ethical

Fitness

Existing Guidelines for Behavior Analyst

and Autism Practitioners

How to Solve Ethical Dilemmas

Defining Ethics and Ethical Behavior

The discipline dealing with

what is good and bad and with

moral duty and obligation

A set of principles of

right conduct. The theory or a system of moral

value

The study of the general nature of morals and of the

specific moral choices to be made

by a person

Certain standards of behavior are developed

by a culture and promote the survival of

that culture -Skinner

Behaviors, practices, and decisions that address three

basic and fundamental questions: What is the right thing to do? What is worth

doing? What does it mean to be a good behavior analyst

-Cooper, Heron, Heward

Defining Ethics and Ethical Behavior

Cooper Definition

What Is The Right Thing To Do?

• Personal History• Context of Practice • Ethical Codes

What is Worth Doing?

• Social Validity• Cost-Benefit Ratio• Current Situation

What Does It Mean To Be A Good

Behavior Analyst

• Following Codes• Following “Golden

Rule”• Self Evaluation

Importance of Ethics in Behavior Analysis

Power of Science

Scope of Responsibilities

Vulnerability of Clients

B.F. Skinner’s Analysis of Values

Values are certain standards of behavior that are developed by a culture and promote the

survival of that culture • B.F. Skinner

Radical Behaviorism

Behavior

Genetic Endowment

Material Environment

Social/Cultural

Environment

Radical Behaviorism

• A Science of behavior – Observable events– Private Events

• Selection by consequences– Species– Individual– Cultural

Beyond Freedom & Dignity

Time Magazine Cover September 20, 1971

Values As A Subject of Science

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHww

Values as Subject of Science

Honesty

Courage

Morality

3 Term Contingency

Antecedent Behavior Consequence

VS

Positive Reinforers

Negative Reinforcers

Skinner’s Analysis of Values

• Classes of Values or Goal– Positively reinforcing to the individual– Positively reinforcing to others– Positively reinforcing to the culture• Universal reinforcers?

Values and Verbal Behavior

Good

Ought

Bad

Should

Skinner’s Analysis of Values

• Ethical Injunctions– Competing contingencies

• Criticism of Skinner’s view of Values

Hmm…

Application of Skinner’s Analysis of Values

• Examine Existing Contingencies for Ethical Behavior

•Self-Examination Reviewing ethical Decisions Recommendations

If you are reinforced by (X), you will be reinforced by doing (Y) and the reinforcement controlling this assertion on my part is (Z).

Practical Ethics and Ethical Fitness®

How Good People Make Touch Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living

by Rushworth M. Kidder

Nature of Ethical DilemmasRight vs. Wrong

Violation of Law

Departure from Truth

Deviation from moral rectitude

Nature of Ethical Dilemmas

Justice versus Mercy

Short-term versus

long-term

Individual versus

community

Truth versus loyalty

Right versus right

Existing Guidelines for Behavior Analyst and Autism

Practitioners

“The behavior analyst has the potential to do great good for clients and society by analyzing complex problematic

behaviors, finding humane and effective solutions, implementing programs that work, and ensuring the least

restrictive, most effective evidence-based treatments possible given limited resources.”

-Bailey & Burch 2011

Ethical Principles of Psychologists

and Code of Conduct

By: American Psychologist

Association

The Right to EffectiveBehavioral Treatment

By: Association for Behavior Analysis

The Right to effective Education

By: Association for Behavior Analysis

Guidelines forResponsibleConduct for

Behavior AnalystsRevised July 2010

By: The BehaviorAnalyst

CertificationBoard

The BACBDisciplinaryStandards

By: The BehaviorAnalyst

CertificationBoard

The BCBA andBCaBA Behavior

Analyst TaskLists

By: BehaviorAnalyst

CertificationBoard

• Ethics for Behavior Analysts: 2nd Expanded For Issue by Jon Bailey and Mary Burch

Risk –Benefit Analysis

Additional Tools

Declaration of Professional

Services

Additional Ethical Considerations in Autism Intervention

• Autism Special Interest group (SIG) Guidelines

• Qualifications to direct behavior analytic program • training necessary • evidence of qualifications • Additional considerations

• Task list for Board Certified Behavior Analyst Working with Persons with Autism

Additional Ethical Considerations in Autism Intervention

• Recommendations for Evidence Based Practice

• Additional Resources

National Standards

Project

The National Professional Center on

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Association for Science in Autism

Treatment

Let’s Talk!

• Discuss possible reinforcers (positive and negative) in each scenario

• Discuss relevant guidelines from the Guidelines for Responsible Conduct

• Discuss other tools that may help with the scenario

Thank you!Questions?