Socioethical Considerations in Behavior Therapy Research and Practice

Abstract

Clinical and research practices of behavior therapists are identified in which the potential for ethical misapplication, underconcern, or insensitivity may arise. An analysis of ethical concerns associated with the following five phases of behavioral intervention is next developed: problem identification, establishing behavioral objectives, designing behavior change, implementing behavior change, and evaluation and feedback of the behavior change endeavor. The article concludes by examining the practice of behavior modification from a sociolegal perspective, with special emphasis on developments within the patients' rights movement.