ABSTRACT
Behavior analysis, although growing rapidly as a profession (G. L. Shook, personal communication, May 30, 2004), is still a very small —eld when compared with other related areas such as social work or clinical psychology. For the most part, we are not yet on the radar screens of most Americans, and, based on our past experience, we know that unethical conduct by a small number of persons can re±ect badly on our whole —eld. If we are to gain the trust of the public, we must set a very high standard of moral and ethical conduct. To be an ethical behavior analyst means not only upholding these Guidelines for your protection and the protection of your clients but also preserving and enhancing the reputation of behavior analysis in general. Guideline 7.0 makes it clear that each of us should “support the values of the —eld.” ‹is no doubt includes the nine core ethical principles discussed in Chapter 2 as well as those values inherent in a behavioral approach. In addition to honesty, fairness, taking responsibility, and promoting autonomy, behavior analysts also promote the value of objective,
reliable data in determining treatment e˜ectiveness, in using that data in decision making, and in focusing on individual behavior as our primary focus of study. Behavior analysts value novel assessments, e˜ective nonintrusive interventions, and the production of socially signi—cant changes in behavior that have worth to the individual and to society. We believe in optimizing each individual’s worth, dignity, and independence and in developing the repertoires necessary to accomplish these goals. It is sometimes necessary to remind our colleagues of these basic values, and this guideline provides this occasion.
