Overview
The application of unpleasant stimuli or the removal of positive stimuli through aversive procedures functions to decrease maladaptive behaviors. Research indicates that aversive procedures show short-term success in reducing self-injurious behavior (SIB) but their implementation creates substantial moral problems. The use of aversive procedures for SIB treatment should be restricted to situations where all positive reinforcement methods and least restrictive approaches have proven ineffective and the client faces an urgent safety threat.
The primary ethical consideration for this choice focuses on protecting the welfare of the client. The APA Ethical Principle A requires professionals to provide benefits to their work clients while avoiding any form of harm according to the principle of beneficence and no maleficence (APA, 2017). The BACB Ethics Code requires behavior analysts to select the least restrictive procedures, which will be effective for their clients while maintaining their welfare (BACB, 2022, Code 2.15). The use of aversive methods violates the client welfare requirement because it causes discomfort or pain unless all other treatment options have been exhausted.
The principles of professional competence and integrity also need to be considered. The use of evidence-based humane interventions, which stem from functional assessments and database decisions, represents the foundation of ethical behavior analysis according to Cooper et al. (2020). The use of aversive procedures without proper training or supervision breaks the principle of competence as stated in BACB Code 1.03. The practice of integrity requires behavior analysts to maintain open communication with families and interdisciplinary teams while obtaining proper consent from clients.
Behavior analysts must uphold their duty to society by practicing ethically while showing compassion in their work. Schreck and Miller (2010) explain that using aversive methods or fad-based treatments damages the public's confidence in ABA practices. Behavior analysts should demonstrate through their practice that effective treatment methods exist through reinforcement-based approaches, functional communication training, and environmental changes instead of punishment.
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct: Including 2010 and 2016 amendments. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2022). Ethics code for behavior analysts. https://www.bacb.com/ethicsLinks to an external site.
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson. Schreck, K. A., & Miller, V. A. (2010). The practice of ethical conduct requires professionals to operate in a world filled with fads. Behavioral Interventions, 25(4), 307–324. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.305eferences