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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!.
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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 NegativeReinforcement 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!
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: Karen Kitchener got to work on that problem! 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.
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
RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF THE BEHAVIOR ANALYST And the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines include:
Analyst’s responsibility to Clients The behavior analyst has a responsibility to operate in the best interest of clients.
Assessing Behavior Behavior 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 Society The 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 Validityis 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 my friends 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?
