Peer-Oriented Behavioral Technology and Ethical Issues

Abstract

The ethical and philosophical implications of behavioral technology applied to human affairs has been a controversial topic from its earliest formulation as a deterministic psychology (Watson, 1963, pp. 164-165), and recently as a result of Skinner's writings (1948, 1966a, 1966b, 1971). Adding to this over the last 10 years, undercurrents in American society have created the impetus for methods guaranteeing against misuse of behavioral control. Perhaps the foremost contributing factor has been the proliferation of behaviorally based programs and methodology to nearly every facet of society (Goodall, 1972). For example, behaviorally trained psychologists are using the techniques in schools, homes, businesses, prisons, mental-health settings, vocational settings, rehabilitation settings, medical settings, and so on, touching the lives of literally thousands of individuals. This proliferation undoubtedly is related to the effectiveness of the technology for solving relevant social and behavioral problems. Thus, it seems that legal, legislative, and professional-group policies to control and monitor the quality of behavioral treatments are increasingly being forced upon practitioners as society reexamines the nature of its institutions.