Importance Of Ethical Dilemmas In Psychology

1843 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of ethics in psychology

Ethical dilemmas are an evitable aspect of individuals work within the field of psychology as professional are constantly challenged and faced with decisions that places them in precarious positions as they function in their different roles with the clients they serve. An ethical dilemma is defined as “a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle” (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ethical_dilemma). Ethical dilemmas extend beyond professional obligations to situational contexts which places competing ethical principles at stake (Knapp, Gottlieb, & Handelsman, 2015). On the same note, ethical dilemmas may occur in response to professionals’ …show more content…

Given this obvious challenge within the field of psychology, several ethical decision-making models have been postulated as an additional guide to the American Psychological Association’s Code of ethics in assisting psychologists in appropriately resolving ethical dilemmas. Psychologists ethical decision making is guided by constructs including values, morality, community standards, reasonableness and professionalism (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2006). Ethical decision making can be carefully evaluated through models such as that of Tymchuck (1981), Kitchener (1984) and Day (1996). According to Tymchuck’s model, a detailed description of the situation containing information derived from all relevant sources must first be obtained to identify critical issues (Freeman, 2000). The ethical decision is then calculated through a thorough evaluation of the critical issues outlined using an analogous process where consequences are carefully assessed (Freeman, 2000). Similarly, Kitchener outlined a critical evaluation model demonstrating the role of virtue ethics in ethical decision

Show More
Related

  • Claymore Residential Home Case Study

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout one’s working life, its highly probable that ethical dilemmas will arise in professional practice in one form or another. Ethical dilemmas bare their heads in many different fashions, including: “…competing ethical principles; empathic failures due to cultural misunderstanding; language gaps; inadequate cultural training to serve a certain population, and so on” (Zoltan, 2016). In the personal experience of this reporter, Claymore Residential Home, a corporately run rehabilitative community for adults with intellectual and cognitive impairment, presents the gravest example of ethical dilemmas. It was a workplace lead by autocrats cloaked in professional titles and facades of altruism. Ethical dilemmas emanated from the top of the hierarchy and trickled throughout the organization.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Forensic Psychology

    1540 Words  | 4 Pages

    Having a positive approach helps psychologists clarify what they value, contemplate how they must behave, and decide what institutes suitable professional demeanor. The significance of positive ethics supports psychologists and allows them to reach their utmost ethical principles instead of violating the rules. The American Psychological Association are the top procedures to monitor to help stay within the ethical guidelines which has recently had revisions in the year two thousand two. There are a number of ethical codes to consider as a forensic psychologist cannot have the unawareness of particular psychological information, absence of specific preparation in forensic, presumptuous the lawyer will offer the expert with the essential legal ethical and professional evidence, assuming diverse jurisdictions are comparable in laws, how the laws are applied and failure to recognize the sole matters related with privacy and privileged communications for the work in the forensic

    Read More

  • Ethical Dilemmas in Psychology

    1795 Words  | 4 Pages

    Francis Bacon helped to pioneer the new science steering people away from Aristotelian teachings. He helped to bring the scientific method to a place of learning from observation and experimentation. He felt that science should be judged by the usefulness of the results (Greenwood, 2009). Bacon projected that many great things might come out of this empirical approach, but what has ensued in the centuries that followed, Bacon and others might not have predicted.

    Read More

  • Boundaries and Ethics in a Counseling Relationship

    2216 Words  | 5 Pages

    G.P. Koocher & P. Kieth-Spiegel (1998) pointed out many conflict of dual and multiple role including personal, client/therapist, therapist/supervisor and therapist/colleague, and how they can improve and complicate the counselling process. Boundaries and competence runs along side one another, which made come to conclusion that if the therapist is considering breaking them s/he should know what they breaking and how to break them ethically. Sometimes the outcome of ethical dilemma can only be “determined by the client and counsellor at that time” which could enable the therapist to change the priorities of Ethical principles and modify his/her actions according to the client’s circumstances (T. Bond, 2000:62).

    Read More

  • Ethical Dilemma In Occupational Therapy

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    Each profession has their own way of navigating ethical dilemmas, which are problems that don’t have a clear ethical/moral choice. The ethical decision

    Read More

  • Ethical And Ethical Dilemmas

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people may think that a being a paralegal is just like being a lawyer, but that is not the case. In fact, there are different types of paralegals just like there are different types of lawyers. These are some of the different types of paralegals that are out there: intellectual property (“IP”) paralegals, family law paralegals, and bankruptcy paralegals (“What Are The Different Types Of Paralegals?” n.d.). According to, “What Do Paralegals Do? (n.d.),” the duties of a paralegal are, “Conduct client interviews and maintain general contact with the client, locate and interview witnesses, conduct investigations, statistical and documentary research, conduct legal research, draft legal documents, correspondence and pleadings, summarize depositions, interrogatories and testimony, attend executions of wills, real

    Read More

  • Understanding Ethics and Moral Dilemmas

    1912 Words  | 4 Pages

    To be ethical means relating subjects to moral principles. Ethics and morals relate to “right” and “wrong” conduct. Ethics refer to rules provided by an external source, (codes of conduct in workplaces or principles in religions). Morals refer to an individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong. Ethical dilemmas or issues, also known as a moral dilemmas, are situations in which there is a choice to be made between two options, neither of which resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable fashion but the decision has to be made, leaving one party either dissatisfied or happy with the outcome.

    Read More

  • The Ethical Decision Making Model: The Kitchener Critical Evaluation Model

    1020 Words  | 3 Pages

    Strengths of the Ethical Decisions Making Model are Kitchener 's Critical Evaluation Model (1984), which involves understanding how ethical decision-making approaches play an important role in the ethical landscape of counseling. It involved the notions of loyalty, faithfulness, and honoring commitments (Kitchener, 1984). It’s best to form trust within the client/counselor relationship and implement faith in the growth of their therapeutic relationship. Kitchener (1984) proposes four goals to strength the model of increasing ethical sensitivity, improving ethical reasoning, developing ethical responsibility and tolerating ambiguity (Kitchener,

    Read More

  • Ethical Dilemma Assignment

    2679 Words  | 6 Pages

    In this assignment we will be identifying an ethical dilemma an individual has experienced. We will begin with a short introduction of what an ethical dilemma is, moving on to providing brief details of the dilemma an individual has experienced. We will then go on to selecting one ethical theory, to show how it can help an individual understand and deal with the situation when placed within, followed by a conclusion.

    Read More

  • Counseling: Ethical Issues

    1774 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ethical issues in a counseling practice lay the foundation of a therapist in practice. Ethics are at the center of how the counseling process functions and operates in a successful manner for the clients who seek help in such a setting. In order for the counseling profession to be ethical and hold professional recognition, there are many facets that need to be examined and outlined to make sure all counselors and practitioners are functioning at the highest level and withholding their duties required by the counseling profession. The first introduction so to speak of the area of ethics also happens to be one of the first steps in counseling, which is the informed consent. The informed consent provides the basis of what happens or will be happening in a counseling setting and serves to inform the client to their rights, responsibilities, and what to expect. Most importantly, the informed consent is in place for the client’s benefit. It also is important to understand that culture and environment play a role in the treatment of a client and how theories can positively or negatively impact this treatment. Therapists need to understand how to work within the context of a theory while being able to understand the individual in their own environment. Although theories are put into place to serve as a framework, there are also alternative ways to approach counseling, one example being evidence-based practice. Such an approach is very specific, which presents a series of solutions for counseling as a whole, but also brings forth many problems. Every approach or theory introduces ethical concerns that need to be taken into consideration by the entire counseling community and how each can positively and negatively affect clients and the pr...

    Read More

  • Legal Ethical And Professional Issues Essay

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues” (Chapter 15) is an interesting chapter in the textbook “Abnormal Psychology.” Just like the name of the chapter, it helps understand legal, ethical, and professional issues related to the practice of psychology. This is very important because by offering service a psychologist is responsible for the people that are under his or her care, that even goes for people participating for research. Psychologist have authority to practice in their area of expertise, using methods that are not harmful to their recipients and “ that preferably have a strong scientific basis” and never doing treatments that are unorthodox and will put their patients health and safety in any more jeopardy. This also gives patients

    Read More

  • Reflection On Social Work Ethics

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    The social work profession and its Code of Ethics dictate that social workers must act in the best interest of the client, even when those actions challenge the practitioner’s personal, cultural and religious values. In practice; however, ethical decision-making is more complex than in theory. As helping professionals, social workers are constantly faced with ethical decision-making or ethical dilemmas. As noted by Banks (2005), an ethical dilemma occurs “when a worker is faced with a choice between two equally unwelcome alternatives that may involve a conflict of moral principles, and it is not clear what choice will be the right one” (as cited in McAuliffe & Chenoweth, 2008, p. 43). In addition, ethical decision-making is a process that

    Read More

  • Ethics Case Study: Clinical Psychologist

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    This clinical psychologist is faced to ethical dilemmas of teaching a class that he is not competent in teaching, as well as a conflict of interest with the department chair that understands his dilemma, but wants him to abandon his principles and compromise ethics. American Psychologist Association (APA) developed ethical principles and codes to assist psychologist when they are faced with ethical dilemmas. Utilitarianism and Kant’s Formalist Theory are two models of ethical reasoning the psychologist can concerned in determine how to this dilemma as well. Gary Ford has also written an ethical decision making process that can guide psychologist in gathering information to their ethical dilemmas.

    Read More

  • A Case Study of Ethics in Psychology

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    American Psychiatric Association. (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychological Association (APA), Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Ethics In Professional Psychology

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ethics play a major part in individual daily lives. Whether it is in an individual career, business, or family there are ethical values. Based on cultural, economics and religious differences many time the standards of ethics may vary. Some ethical values may be stronger and others may have few rules/laws they may abide by. Ethics are based upon a persons or groups moral principles, as we know some peoples’ morals should be questioned. This is the reason that large organizations have set in place their own ethical principles that they want their members to follow. Any profession that deals with psychology not only follows the organizational ethical rules but that of the American Psychology Association (APA). The APA refers to the ethical guidelines, Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Students of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology also follow another set of ethical values known as the TCS Codes of Conduct. Both ethical guidelines focus on the “do’s and don’ts” of the psychology world and that of the school. Both altos discuss at length the consequences of an individual

    Read More

More about Importance Of Ethical Dilemmas In Psychology

Open Document