Everyday Ethical Challenges
For Average Citizens
&
Behavior Analysts
Chapter 5
Presented by:
Heather Peltack
ABA 563 - Summer 2012
Jon Bailey & Mary Burch
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Introduction
Favors
Gossip
“White Lies”
Appreciation
Advice
Responsibility
Questions
Introduction

Everyday any citizen is challenged with ethical
situations



As a child you absorb the rules of communities,
religions and cultures




Sometimes you may be aware of situations
Sometimes you may not be aware
Parents
Teachers
Group Leaders
Adults play a key role start rules and delivering the
consequences that will determine future adult
behavior.
Good Example
Leader
(Presents Rules)
Daisy
Future Adult
Behavior
Bad Example
Introduction

2 words that sum up this chapter “snowball
effect”- Courtesy of Megan Borgese

Every topic we will discuss may cause a snowball
effect if you do not handle ethically the first
encounter.
Personal Ethics
Personal Ethics= the way we allow ourselves
to operate in our personal lives
vs .
Professional Ethics=the way our profession
(BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS) expects us to
operate in order to maintain our
certification in order to reflect the high
standards and continued positive
development of the field
Favors- Be prepared for favors

Everyone are accustomed to asking for and
returning favors

Just remember when you do a favor for
someone you may be reinforcing the “favor”
behavior to happen again

Scenarios from chapter



Can I borrow a DVD?
Can you tell me the name of a good counselor?
Working in a home program, mom asks you to run session in
the car, do you do it?
Favor Examples?

Can anyone give an example from there
personal live or job where you reinforced a
favor?
Gossip
Gossip

Everyday/ Everywhere







Magazines
Coffee with a friend
E!
Reality TV
Family
Friends
Colleagues

Chapter


Gossip is one of the
recognized coins of the
popular culture, it is
accepted by average
citizens as normal in our
society.
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=OBHZ4fg0lS0
Gossip

Clinical



Parents asking about other learners
Therapists talking about learners
Limitation on therapist privacy


Example- Personal and Private life
Try to not reinforce gossip
“White Lies”

An attempt to avoid conflict

Our book they say “ In our culture people tend to cover up their
motives, mistakes, or other shortcomings with white lies.

Use evasive tactics instead of the truth

Many people can not read your signals and they help you try to
overcome every excuse you can think of

Example- Modified from book

A friend calls to invite you for coffee and you would rather go to the
gym.You say you already have plans to take your niece shopping.
White Lies (Work and Personal)
It wasn’t me!
• Because some things just aren’t worth taking
credit for.
The table will be ready
• Because it sounds a lot better than 15 minutes.
in 5 minutes.
Oh, yeah. That makes
sense.
• Because option B involves admitting that I am
clueless.
Thank you so much! I
just love it!
• Because telling someone that their gift sucked
would make me look like an insensitive jerk.
No, officer… I have no
idea how fast I was
going.
• Because claiming ignorance is sometimes better
than admitting to insubordination.
White Lies (Work and Personal)
I’m 29.
• Because 29 is like 20 years younger than 30.
Yeah, I’ll start working
on that ASAP!
• Because telling you I have 10 things to do first
would just irritate you.
Yes, John was with me
last night.
• Because that’s what friends do… we agree and
ask questions later.
I’m 21, 6’5, with a
muscular build.
• Because you can’t see me in this online chat
room… ha ha!
I thought I already sent
• Because telling you that it was a low priority and I
that email out. I’m sure
forgot would probably hurt our relationship.
I did.
Appreciation- Gifts


Gifts, money,
Service Appreciation




Solutions we have discussed:


Doorman tip
Hairdresser
Newspaper delivery
1st day say “If you want to but buy something we have a
donation list”
Exchanging of gifts creates a dual-role relationship
Advice

Is normally based on personal experiences, unspecified
biases and undisclosed relationships.

Once becoming BCBA you must be careful of how and
what advice you give to others

Book example (Page 43 & 44)

BACB Guidelines for Responsible Conduct, 1.05 a
Responsibility

When something is good… Many people hold themselves
responsible

When something is bad… Many people do not hold them
selves responsible




Politicians
Movie stars
Parents with child
Teach children if negative consequences are provided,
both parties are reinforced to tactics to avoid
responsibility
Responsibility

Behavior Analyst must be aware of this


Necessary steps that agreements with parents are followed
through
Implementing good behavior plans at home
BCBA
http://www.studystack.com/flashcard-588131
Summary

BCBA or BCABA-must make a conscious choice to
uphold our fields strict GUIDELINES OF RESPONSIBLE
CONDUCT.

Bailey and Burch assert that abandoning some of our
personal ethics which might conflict with our
GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT, is a
“worthy challenge”.

Following the GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSIBLE
CONDUCT bring benefits and integrity to the
profession of behavior analysis.
Questions
Role Play
1.
6 Groups (Favors, Gossip , “White Lies”,
Appreciation , Advice & Responsibility)
References

Bailey, J.S., &Burch, M.R. (2011). Ethics for behavior
analysts (2nd Expanded Edition).
Routledge.