Lecture 1 - Introduction to Professional Ethics

Question 1

Ethics

Answer 1

A general term that refers to values, how we ought to live, to behave, and what constitutes proper conduct. A system of principles that guide behavior

Question 2

Practical or applied ethics

Answer 2

Refers to the application of ethics to specialized areas or professions, such as psychology

Question 3

Practical or applied ethics

Answer 3

Refers to the application of ethics to specialized areas or professions, such as psychology.

Question 4

Psychology Interpretation

Answer 4

Psychologists use the word ethics to refer both to the minimum standards adopted by the profession, the principles and rules of professional practice (i.e., remedial ethics) as well as to voluntary efforts to live out moral ideals, to “do the right thing,” motivated by deeply held moral principles. This approach is reflected in the aspirational principles of the APA Ethics Code and in writings on positive or active ethics.

Question 5

Professional Ethics

Ethics and the Law

Answer 5

The standards that govern the conduct of its professional members.

Question 6

Law

Ethics and Law

Answer 6

The body of rules that govern the affairs of people within a community, state, or country. Laws define the minimum standards society will tolerate which are enforced by the government. *Sometimes there is conflict between the two.

Question 7

Regulation

Answer 7

Regulation of practice occurs in every country by professional regulating boards.

Question 8

Stastics - Ethics (1)

Answer 8

Participation in counseling and psychotherapy is an effective intervention for relieving emotional distress and increasing general satisfaction with life.

Question 9

Statistics - Ethics (2)

Answer 9

80% of those who attend psychotherapy are better off than those who elect not to seek help

Question 10

Statistics - Ethics (3)

Answer 10

5 to 10% of clients who attend therapy end up feeling worse

Question 11

Client deterioration

Answer 11

1. **Client factors **
2. *Therapist factors *(i.e. therapists’ iincompetent services, insensitivity to the ethics of practice, disregard for the welfare of clients)

Question 12

Ethical ideals and values of the profession (1)

Answer 12

1. Having sufficient knowledge, skill, and judgment to use efficacious interventions

Question 13

Ethical ideals and values of the profession (2)

Answer 13

Respecting the human dignity and freedom of the client(s)

Question 14

Ethical ideals and values of the profession (3)

Answer 14

Using the power inherent in the professional’s role responsibly

Question 15

Ethical ideals and values of the profession (4)

Answer 15

Acting in ways that promote public confidence in the profession

Question 16

Ethical ideals and values of the profession (5)

Answer 16

Placing the welfare of the client(s) as the professional’s highest priority

Question 17

Ethical action

Answer 17

Ethical action is not just about what we think or how we feel, it is about who we are

Question 18

Need of Ethics (1)…

Answer 18

To guide us into living and acting to promote the welfare for others and ourselves in practice

Question 19

Need of Ethics (2)…

Answer 19

To handle** “difficult” situations** or dilemmas in our practice in a way that will eventually promote the welfare of our clients/students/research participants, and others affected by those situations

Question 20

Ethical Dilemma

Answer 20

An ethical dilemma is a situation for which “no course of action seems satisfactory. The dilemma exists because there are good, but contradictory ethical reasons to take conflicting and incompatible courses of action.” (Kitchener, 1984, p. 43).

Question 21

Kitchener Model - 5 Principles

Answer 21

1. Autonomy (freedom of action and choice),
2. Beneficence (doing good),
3. Nonmaleficence (avoiding harm),
4. Justice (fairness), and
5. Fidelity (keep promises, be faithful)

Question 22

Rest´s model of moral behaviour

Resources of Ethical Decision-making

Answer 22

1. Moral sensitivity:
   The process of recognizing the situation as one with implications for the welfare of another.
2. Moral reasoning:
   The process of thinking through the alternatives, once a situation has been recognized as having moral dimensions.
3. Moral motivation:
   Once a person has evaluated the options and determined which is most moral, then he/she must decide whether to act.
4. Moral character: requires virtues such as compassion, integrity, and conscientiousness.

Question 23

B. Codes of Ethics

Resources of Ethical Decision-making

Answer 23

They represent the official statements of the professions about what is expected of members, and all members are held accountable for actions that violate the code.
They define required activities, (e.g. explaining the benefits and risks of services to clients), as well as prohibited activities, (e.g. having a sexual relationship with a current client or student).
Codes also define the conditions under which certain other behaviors are permissible.
They include “aspirational statements” that clarify the fundamental ethical values of the profession

Question 24

C. Literature from philosophy

Resources of Ethical Decision-making

Answer 24

Literature that connects professional ethics to philosopher’s writings on ethics and **explain the philosophical underpinnings of the codes. The philosophical literature also clarifies the values and virtues **underlying the **actions of responsible professionals and highlights that ethical practice always requires value judgments** on the part of the professional.

Question 25

D.Literature from Neuroscience

Resources of Ethical Decision-making

Answer 25

Findings thus far demonstrate that making moral judgments is not a purely conscious process, and that there may be an interaction between genetics and environment on moral and ethical behavior.

Question 26

E. Research on Professional Ethics - Common themes of codes of ethics

Answer 26

• Promoting the welfare of clients
• Practicing within the scope of one’s competence **
  *Understanding and respecting the cultural values of clients
  *Distinguishing between personal and professional values
  *Avoiding harmand exploitation * Establishing and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries *Protecting client’s confidentiality and privacy
  *Acting ethically and responsibly
  *Avoiding discrimination in providing services to clients
  *Upholding the integrity of the profession by striving for the highest level of ethical practice (aspirational ethics)

Question 27

Objectives of the codes of ethics

Answer 27

a) To **safeguard **the welfare of clients and others with whom psychologists are in a professional relationship, by providing what is in their best interest.
b) To educate professionals about sound ethical conduct since reading and reflecting on the standards can help practitioners expand their **awareness **and clarify their values in dealing with work challenges.
c) To provide a mechanism for professional accountability.
d)To serve as catalysts for improving practice. Since professionals need to interpret and apply the codes in their own practices, the questions raised help them to **clarify **their position on dilemmas that do not have simple answers.

Question 28

Advantages of Codes of Ethics

Answer 28

• Codes represent the best judgment of one’s peers about common problems and** shared professional values**.
• Codes support the professional faced with an ethical question.
• The existence and enforcement of codes of ethics also demonstrate that mental health professionals take seriously their responsibility to protect the public welfare.

Question 29

Limitations of Codes of Ethics

Answer 29

• Some issues cannot be handled solely by relying on ethics codes.
• Some codes lack clarity and precision, which makes assessment of an ethical dilemma unclear.
• Simply learning the ethics codes and practice guidelines will not necessarily make for ethical practice. *
• Conflicts sometimes emerge within ethics codes as well as among various organizations’ codes.
• In USA, practitioners who belong to multiple professional associations, are licensed by their state, and hold national certifications may be responsible to practice within the framework of numerous codes of ethics, yet these codes may not be uniform.

Question 30

Limitations of Ethics Codes (2)

Answer 30

• Ethics codes tend to be reactive rather than proactive.
• A practitioner’s personal values may conflict with a specific standard within an ethics code.
• Codes may conflict with institutional policies and practices.
• Ethics codes need to be understood within a cultural framework; therefore, they must be adapted to specific cultures.
• Codes may not align with State laws or regulations regarding reporting requirements. *
• Because of the diverse viewpoints within any professional organization, **not all members **will agree with all elements of an organization’s ethics codes.

Question 31

Professional monitoringof practice How is the practice monitored?

Answer 31

In the USA, state licensing laws establish the scope of practice of professionals and how these laws will be enforced by licensing boards. They also monitor the conduct of professionals they have licensed.

Question 32

Major duties of regulating boards

Answer 32

• To determine standards for admission to the **profession **
• To **screen **applicants applying for **certification **or **licensure **
• To regulate the practice of psychotherapy for the public good
• To conduct disciplinary proceedings involving violations of standards

Question 33

Professional monitoring of practice - Professional organisations:
Ethics committees that oversee the conduct of members of the organization

Answer 33

a) educate the association’s membership about ethics codes, and b) protect the public from unethical practices.

Question 34

Possible decisions of ethics committes

Answer 34

• The complaint may be **dimissed **
• Specific charges within the complaint may be **dismissed **
• The committee may decide that there is a violation, and impose sanctions.

Question 35

*Possible decisions of ethics committes *
Sanctions

Answer 35

• A reprimand–
• A recommendation that a specific course of remedial action be taken such as obtaining ongoing supervision or individual therapy
• Probation or suspension for a specific period of time–
• A recommendation that the member be allowed to resign from the organization
• A recommendation that the member be expelled.

Question 36

Cyprus - Psychologists Registration Board –SEPS (Regulating/licencingboard)
(A) A complain for an ethical misconduct is sent
(B) Professional organizations

Answer 36

Form a comittee and they decide whether there is:
a) Ethical violation (sanctions by Σ.Ε.Ψ)
b) Criminal violation (sanctions by court and Σ.Ε.Ψ)

Question 37

Summary and Conclusion of Ethics Codes

Answer 37

The ethics codes are broad and general and they **DON’T **give us specific answers to everyday ethical dilemmas

• Lacking knowledge of the ethics code of our profession is not an acceptable excuse for engaging in unethical behavior
• An ethical violation can be not only an act of unethical behavior, but can also become a CRIMINAL OFFENSE
• Psychologists of all specializations and of all levels of education (including trainees) are accountable for practicing ethically and may be punished for not doing so *
• Ethics Code, Department of Social Sciences, UNIC