Ethics and Legal Issues

Abstract

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) continues to develop and grow as a practice and science. Within recent years, ABA has experienced a dramatic increase in practitioner-base, as well as those pursuing careers in the field (BACB, US employment demand for behavior analysts: 2010–2020. Author, Littleton, 2021). As more individuals identify themselves as behavior analysts, there becomes an increased likelihood that ethical challenges and misrepresentations of the field may occur. Current behavior analysts have a clinical and professional responsibility to understand the ethical issues that have occurred in the past, and how these complications have contributed to the shaping of the field. The following chapter will address the foundation and establishment of ethical standards within ABA and identify and recognize current ethical concerns. Strategies to engage in ethical decision-making that is in line with The Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Ethics code for behavior analysts, Author, Littleton, 2020), the best interests of potential clients, collateral parties, the behavior analyst themselves, and the field as a whole will be discussed.