Intro to Ethics in Counseling Flashcards
Most common ethics complaints across studies
- Sexual misconduct
- Improper practices (often insurance & fee issues)
- Multiple relationship (non-sexual boundary issues)
Prevalence of complaints
Very rare
Many violations unreported
Clients don’t know rights; don’t feel empowered
Colleagues don’t want to get involved
Intentional v. Unintentional Violations
Violations are typically unintentional and may be relatively benign but important to be aware of
- 75% of psychologists discuss clients with friends without revealing names; 8% discuss clients and reveal their names
- Intentional Violation: 62% of psychologists intentionally reveal confidential data
- Unintentional Violation: 75% misinterpret legal and ethical obligations for clients at high risk for violence
What is an example or reason for an unintentional ethical violation?
Example.
What is an example or reason for an intentional ethical violation?
Example.
Who is at risk for ethical violation?
Statistics suggest:
- Male therapists and educators are more likely to engage in sexual misconduct than female therapists
- Someone who has gotten away with it once, more likely to do it again
*Virtually anyone is susceptible to violating confidentiality and engaging in dual relationships Everyone must be vigilant for themselves.
Four Reasons for Ethical Behavior
- Moral Behavior from Developmental Psychology
- Codes of Ethics
- Philosophical Foundation of Ethics
- Research on Professional Ethics
Moral Behavior
Involved in Moral decision making
Includes moral action: any behavior than can affect the welfare of another
Can make good faith efforts even if actions are not successful
Actions need not be successful to be moral
Moral action
Any behavior than can affect the welfare of another
Can make good faith efforts even if actions are not successful
Actions need not be successful to be moral
i.e., neighbor break-in and moral obligation to do something
Don’t have to put self at risk
i.e., you have obligation to get firearms away from suicidal ideator but do not have to go get gun yourself
James Rest’s model of moral decision making
- Describes what prompts moral or ethical behaviors and how we develop the ability to make moral decisions
- Includes:
- –moral sensitivitiy
- –moral reasoning
- –moral motivation
- –moral character
Moral Sensitivity
- Must be able to recognize when a situation has implications for the welfare of another
- Realizing the impact of your behavior on clients, colleagues, and the public
Moral Reasoning
- Thinking through alternatives once a situation has been recognized as having moral implications
- Partly emotional, partly cognitive
- Not everyone processes with equal efficiency or maturity—expertise seems to correlate with biological maturity and social experience
- Not necessarily in specific, deliberate order or process; must be careful not to make “knee-jerk,” heuristic decisions or reactions
Moral Motivation
- Deciding whether to move forward once a moral action has been determined
- Competing values may interfere with follow through
- Results in a test between ethical values and other values
Moral Character
Carrying out the moral action to its conclusion
Persevering with moral action despite personal costs
Moral action cannot take place if not executed
Depends integrity and character
What is the value of the Moral Behavior Model?
I.e., why look at this at all? Why not just read the APA codes and call it good?
Model gives some insight into the internal processes of making ethical decisions
Provides a framework to identify ethical issues
What are Ethics Codes?
Specify rules of conduct and standards of care for members
Members agree to follow code in professional activities even if values of the code contradict personal values
Includes prescribed and prohibited behaviors
Pros & Cons of Ethics Codes
+Provide support when facing ethics dilemma
+Extol aspirational statements that express basic ethical values of the profession
- Lag behind cutting-edge issues (e-therapy, HIV, etc.)
- Often represent compromise rather than ethical ideal
- /+Not definitive guides for responsible behavior
Why use philosophical foundation for Ethics?
Relies on philosophical literature to connect professional conduct to wisdom of the ages
Excellent resource for coping with most difficult and confusing ethical dilemmas
Philosophy defines ethical principles, which can be used to evaluate options when codes do not provide sufficient guidance for resolution.
What are the Five Ethical Principles?
Autonomy Beneficence Nonmaleficence Fidelity Justice
Autonomy
Respect for client autonomy
Respect for the inherent freedom and dignity of others
Right for people to make their own decisions
However, Autonomy has limits
one person’s autonomy cannot interfere with another person’s freewill, e.g., killing someone
Must understand implications of their freewill in order to appropriately exercise it
Right is privacy is related to Autonomy
When evaluating possible courses of actions, ask which alternatives are most consistent with this principle?
“kitties have free will” example
Suspend autonomy in order to achieve a particular goal
Beneficence
Obligation to do good
Responsibility to do good
Need not guarantee positive outcomes but must do best and provide alternatives when not effective
Make improvements
Consider benefits to public when weighing options
Not enough to not injure clients; first avoid harm, but then do good
Nonmaleficence
Avoidance of harm
Primum non nocere—First, do no harm
Duty to avoid harm does not require omniscience, but does dictate careful, prudent judgment
Do not engage in activities known likely to cause harm, even if the alternative is doing nothing
Fidelity
Obligation to keep promises, follow through on commitments
Faithfulness to promises made and to the truth—loyalty
Place client interests ahead of own; be loyal to clients even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable
Principle also implies loyalty to colleagues and the profession
Justice
Provide fair, just treatment to all
Obligation to act fairly
Ethically obligated not to show bias on the basis of race, age, gender, culture, or any other variable irrelevant to the matter at hand
Not enough to avoid prejudice; offer additional services to those whose difference is relevant
