Abstract
Coercion is defined as the control of behavior through: (a) punishment or the threat of punishment, or (b) negative reinforcement—the removal of punishment. The question under discussion is whether coercion is an effective and a desirable basis for applied behavior analysis. Because coercive control has always been characteristic of society in general, the problem requires consideration of all facets of our culture. Behavior analysts who use or recommend coercive techniques of therapy, behavior modification, teaching, parenting, and so on, must be viewed in that context. In many areas of society, the practice of coercion has been refined and perfected to an extent that applied behavior analysis has never approached. Applied behavioral research therefore contributes nothing new when it applies coercive methodology. Also, coercion produces side effects that may be even less desirable than the original problem behavior. The occasional need to use coercion to deal with emergencies does not justify the advocacy of coercion as a principle of therapy. What basic and applied behavior analysts can offer that is new and constructive are positive reinforcement techniques for teaching new behavior and stimulus-control techniques for establishing cognitive repertoires.
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This paper was adapted from Sidman, M. (1989). Coercion and its Fallout. Boston: Authors Cooperative.
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Sidman, M. Reflections on Behavior Analysis and Coercion. Behav. Soc. Iss. 3, 75–85 (1993). https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v3i1.199
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v3i1.199