During the past two decades, knowledge about how to influence and change human behavior has grown dramatically, and behavior technology is increasing rapidly in clinical practice, prisons, schools, hospitals, and other institutions. At the same time, public concern about how this knowledge is being used-about its potential for harming or improving people-has also grown. Consequently, behavioral professionals are now deeply enmeshed in a number of social, legal, and ethical controversies. In 1974 the American Psychological Association formed a commission to examine and clarify the issues involved in these controversies and to provide recommendations concerning the use and misuse of behavior modification. The book is organized around major settings where the techniques of behavior modification are applied; such settings include out-patient facilities, community mental health centers, schools, mental institutions, institutions for the retarded, and prisons. The book describes the variations in practice at each setting and evaluates programs according to specific issues: