Our research utilizes a nonlinear constructional approach to define genuine assent. Building on Goldiamond’s contribution to the Belmont Report, we emphasize the importance of degrees of freedom in ensuring genuine assent rather than implicit coercion. Genuine assent by provides individuals with multiple paths to yield the same outcome, allowing for the assessment of activity-specific preferences and leading to more effective and ethical interventions.
- Abdel-Jalil, A., Linnehan, A. M., Yeich, R., Hetzel, K., Amey, J., & Klick, S. (2023). Can there be compassion without assent? A nonlinear constructional approach. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-12.
- Goldiamond, I. (1976). Protection of human subjects and patients: A social contingency analysis of distinctions between research and practice, and its implications. Behaviorism, 4(1), 1-41.
- Linnehan, A. M., Abdel-Jalil, A., Klick, S., Amey, J., Yeich, R., & Hetzel, K. (2023). Foundations of Preemptive Compassion: A Behavioral Concept Analysis of Compulsion, Consent, and Assent. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-8.
- Scallan, C. M., & Rosales-Ruiz, J. (2023). The constructional approach: A compassionate approach to behavior change. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-10.
The Constructional Approach to Behavior Analysis 