E11 Identify personal biases and how they might interfere with professional activity.

E.11 Identify personal biases and how they might interfere with professional activity.

Identifying personal biases involves recognizing any preconceived ideas, beliefs, or attitudes that might influence a behavior analyst’s professional judgment or decision-making. Understanding how these biases could affect service delivery is essential for ensuring objective, ethical, and client-centered practices.

Example: A BCBA realizes they have a bias toward believing that children should receive frequent praise for good behavior, based on their own upbringing. However, when working with a family from a cultural background that values modesty and minimal verbal praise, the BCBA acknowledges this bias and adjusts the intervention plan. Instead of relying on verbal praise, they incorporate culturally appropriate forms of reinforcement, such as allowing the child to spend time with family members as a reward for positive behavior. This adjustment ensures the intervention is respectful and effective for the client.

E. Ethical and Professional Issues

E.1. Identify and apply core principles underlying the ethics codes for BACB certificants (e.g., benefit others; treat others with compassion, dignity, and respect; behave with integrity).

E.2. Identify the risks to oneself, others, and the profession as a result of engaging in unethical behavior.

E.3. Develop and maintain competence by engaging in professional development activities (e.g., read literature, seek consultation, establish mentors).

E.4. Identify and comply with requirements for collecting, using, protecting, and disclosing confidential information.

E.5. Identify and comply with requirements for making public statements about professional activities (e.g., social media activity; misrepresentation of professional credentials, behavior analysis, and service outcomes).

E.6. Identify the conditions under which services or supervision should be discontinued and apply steps that should
be taken when transitioning clients and supervisees to another professional.

E.7. Identify types of and risks associated with multiple relationships, and how to mitigate those risks when they are unavoidable.

E.8. Identify and apply interpersonal and other skills (e.g., accepting feedback, listening actively, seeking input, collaborating) to establish and maintain professional relationships.

E.9. Engage in cultural humility in service delivery and professional relationships.

E.10. Apply culturally responsive and inclusive service and supervision activities.

E.11. Identify personal biases and how they might interfere with professional activity.

E.12. Identify and apply the legal, regulatory, and practice requirements (e.g., licensure, jurisprudence, funding, certification) relevant to the delivery of behavior analytic services.