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Does Applied Behavior Analysis Violate Principles of Ethics and Bioethics? A Response to Wilkenfeld and McCarthy (2020).

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Title: Does Applied Behavior Analysis Violate Principles of Ethics and Bioethics? A Response to Wilkenfeld and McCarthy (2020).
Authors: Melton, Britany (AUTHOR), Weiss, Mary Jane (AUTHOR), Cihon, Joseph (AUTHOR), Ferguson, Julia (AUTHOR), Ross, Robert (AUTHOR), Melton, Ian (AUTHOR), Leaf, Justin (AUTHOR)
Source: Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities. Dec2025, Vol. 40 Issue 4, p179-188. 10p.
Subjects: Treatment of autism, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Cultural awareness, Autonomy (Psychology), Social justice, Control (Psychology), Debate, Benevolence, Cultural competence, Bioethics, Treatment effectiveness, Conversion therapy, Decision making in clinical medicine, Asperger's syndrome, Judgment (Psychology), Behavior therapy, Patient abuse
Abstract: Wilkenfeld and McCarthy's 2020 article, "Ethical Concerns with Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism Spectrum 'Disorder'," is part of a growing line of peer-reviewed articles that are critical of interventions based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) for autistics/individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Throughout this article, the authors make claims that ABA-based intervention is abusive, coercive, and results in negative outcomes (e.g., Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) for autistic/individuals diagnosed with ASD utilizing a bioethics framework. More specifically, the purpose of this article is to provide an analysis and discussion of Wilkenfeld and McCarthy's rationales and conclusions by highlighting areas of agreement and concern, and those requiring additional clarification. We hope this analysis will help continue progressing the field of ABA-based interventions for autistic children and their families, advance discussions among behavior analysts and their consumers, and underscore pathways forward for all involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Does Applied Behavior Analysis Violate Principles of Ethics and Bioethics? A Response to Wilkenfeld and McCarthy (2020).
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Focus+on+Autism+%26+Other+Developmental+Disabilities%22">Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 40 Issue 4, p179-188. 10p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Treatment+of+autism%22">Treatment of autism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Post-traumatic+stress+disorder%22">Post-traumatic stress disorder</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+awareness%22">Cultural awareness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autonomy+%28Psychology%29%22">Autonomy (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+justice%22">Social justice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Control+%28Psychology%29%22">Control (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Debate%22">Debate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Benevolence%22">Benevolence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+competence%22">Cultural competence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bioethics%22">Bioethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Treatment+effectiveness%22">Treatment effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Conversion+therapy%22">Conversion therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+making+in+clinical+medicine%22">Decision making in clinical medicine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asperger's+syndrome%22">Asperger's syndrome</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+%28Psychology%29%22">Judgment (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior+therapy%22">Behavior therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+abuse%22">Patient abuse</searchLink>
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  Data: Wilkenfeld and McCarthy's 2020 article, "Ethical Concerns with Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism Spectrum 'Disorder'," is part of a growing line of peer-reviewed articles that are critical of interventions based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) for autistics/individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Throughout this article, the authors make claims that ABA-based intervention is abusive, coercive, and results in negative outcomes (e.g., Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) for autistic/individuals diagnosed with ASD utilizing a bioethics framework. More specifically, the purpose of this article is to provide an analysis and discussion of Wilkenfeld and McCarthy's rationales and conclusions by highlighting areas of agreement and concern, and those requiring additional clarification. We hope this analysis will help continue progressing the field of ABA-based interventions for autistic children and their families, advance discussions among behavior analysts and their consumers, and underscore pathways forward for all involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=189133593
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        Value: 10.1177/10883576251349214
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        Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 179
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Treatment of autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Post-traumatic stress disorder
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural awareness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autonomy (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Social justice
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      – SubjectFull: Benevolence
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      – SubjectFull: Bioethics
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      – SubjectFull: Conversion therapy
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      – SubjectFull: Decision making in clinical medicine
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      – TitleFull: Does Applied Behavior Analysis Violate Principles of Ethics and Bioethics? A Response to Wilkenfeld and McCarthy (2020).
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              Text: Dec2025
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