Question

One of the “goals” of psychology is to control behavior. Is that a legitimate goal for science? Should there be “controls” on the work of psychologists to control behavior?

Answer 1

The control of behaviour can be regarded as a legitimate goal of psychology. If the behaviour is clearly a symptom of an underlying disorder, it must be controlled for the benefit of the individual and those around him or her. To “control” what psychologists can do in their practice is clearly laid out in the form of ethical principles by several prominent organisations such as the APA, ACA and the like. For instance, psychologists are required to obtain informed consent from clients prior to treatment by presenting sufficient details about the therapy technique, including how established the treatment is and whether a psychologist in training will be assisting the client.