The Philosophy of the Ethical Behavior Analyst

At the core of the practice of Applied Behavior Analysis is a set of values to which we are bound: the Ethics Code, the guiding principles for the delivery of effective services to help improve the lives of our consumers. A requirement for maintaining our certification is to abide by this Code. What makes a behavior analyst truly ethical is the philosophical foundation upon which their values are built. An ethical compass, like one’s own moral compass, points an Ethical Behavior Analyst in the right direction. Ethical decision-making comes from not only an understanding of the Ethics Code, but also a determination to practice by the values of the Ethics Code in other aspects of their life. In this chapter, The Ethical Behavior Analyst is introduced as a concept of a clinician who follows their ethical compass when providing treatment and making decisions that could affect the lives of their clients and colleagues. Most behavior analysts strive to practice in close alignment with the Ethics Code and use this motivation to assure that the best interests of their clients are kept at the forefront of all their decisions.