The Unique Challenge of Articulating the Behavior Analysts’ Ethical Obligations and the Case of Punishment
Say ‘causes pain or discomfort’ instead of hiding behind the word ‘punishment.’
01Research in Context
What this study did
Graber et al. (2019) wrote a think-piece, not an experiment.
They looked at how we talk about punishment in ethics forms and notes.
The team asked: do parents and reviewers really know what 'punishment' means?
What they found
The word 'punishment' hides the fact that something hurts or feels bad.
The authors say: write 'causes pain or discomfort' instead of just 'punishment.'
Plain talk keeps everyone honest and meets the BACB code.
How this fits with other research
Suarez et al. (2023) checked 55 ethics models and found nine steps we all share.
Their steps match the BACB code, so Graber’s plain-language rule fits right in.
Fontes et al. (2018) showed that punishment can bring back old problem behavior.
Their lab data remind us why clear warnings about aversives matter.
Austin et al. (2024) push trauma-informed care; plain talk about pain supports that same caring stance.
Why it matters
Next time you write a behavior plan, swap ‘punishment’ for ‘will cause brief pain.’
Parents can consent with open eyes, and reviewers see the real cost.
One sentence keeps you ethical, trauma-informed, and BACB-compliant.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
There is a long-standing debate about the place for technical versus colloquial language in applied behavior analysis; however, this debate has yet to be considered within the context of a professional code of ethics for applied behavior analysts. In this article we discuss the limitations of technical language in articulating the applied behavior analyst’s ethical commitments, illustrating this point by considering the use of the term punishment in the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2016). The ethical concerns regarding the use of punishment may be more accurately stated in terms of the need to avoid techniques that cause pain or discomfort rather than techniques that meet the technical definition of punishment. In summary, more consideration should be given to the use of subjective terminology in behavior analysts’ ethical discussions.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2019 · doi:10.1007/s40617-018-00310-9