Revision (content from lecture #11) Flashcards
Characteristics of moral decisions
¨Involve your treatment of other people (or animals)
¨Do not always contain an obvious “right” or “wrong” answer
¨Often both positive and/or negative consequences to yourself or others
¨Values act as guiding principles that lead to your decision
¨Involve the concept of moral responsibility
i.e., you are accountable for your actions
Ethics and Morals
¨Principles that govern how we ought to or should behave
¨Concerned with the judgment of the goodness or badness of human action and character
¤E.g., right or wrong, fair or unfair
¨Terms used interchangeably
¤But in psychological research and practice we speak of ethics
Moral Values
¨Principles an individual considers most important and that guide actions
¨Acquired over lifespan
¨Taught by authorities
¤E.g., parents – “Tell the truth”, religious leaders – “Do not kill”
¤Need to evaluate accuracy
nE.g., raised in an environment that encourages racist beliefs, believe this type of behaviour is morally acceptable
nAuthorities often disagree
¨Learnt through experience
E.g., Volunteer work – “we should contribute to the welfare of people less fortunate than ourselves”
Moral Dilemma
¨Situation involving a conflict between at least two different but appealing moral principles
¨Upholding one moral principle results in violation of the other
¨Regardless of decision, someone or something will end up suffering
¨God preloaded us with a set of instincts – basic goods
¨Derive natural law (i.e., what is right/wrong) from basic goods
¤Instinct and reason
¤Universal
Moral Reasoning
¨Thinking process to determine whether an action is right or wrong
¨Deontological reasoning
¨Utilitarian reasoning
¨Virtue ethics
Deontological Reasoning
¨Some acts are right or wrong in themselves, irrespective of the consequences
¨Morality of action depends on it’s consistency with moral norms
¤Moral norms = universally accepted rules
nE.g., it is wrong to steal, it is right to keep promises
¨Leads individuals to do the right ‘thing’ even if it produces negative consequences
¤E.g., it would be wrong to tell a lie in order to save a friend from a murderer
¨Categorical imperative – “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law”
¨Reasoning from rule
Utilitarian Reasoning
An act is right or wrong depending on the consequences it produces
The more good consequences are produced the more right the act
When faced with a moral dilemma
- Identify all possible courses of action
- Identify benefits and harms of each course of action for all affected parties
- Choose the action that provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people
Reasoning from consequences
Virtue Ethics
Virtues= positive character traits
Eg. compassion, generosity, fairness, honesty
An action is only right if it is an action that a virtuous person would carry out in the same circumstances
When faced with a moral decision, ask yourself
- What kind of person should I be?
- What action will promote the development of this character?
- -> Eg. I aspire to be an honest person, therefore I will not lie
Reasoning from virtue
Social Intuitionist Model
¨Moral judgments are based on automatic processes (i.e., intuition) rather than conscious reasoning
¨Individuals engage in post hoc reasoning to find evidence to support their initial intuitions
¤Usually in response to social demand for justification
¤Or to influence others moral judgments
Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
Preconventional Level
Reasoning driven by external authorities
Stage 1: Punishment orientation
- Acts are wrong if they are punished
Stage 2:
Acts are right if they are rewarded
- Self- interested
Conventional Level:
Stage 3: Good boy/ girl orientation
- Right and wrong determined by close others approval/ disapproval
Stage 4:Authority Orientation
- Rules necessary to maintain social order
–> Understand function of punishment in society
Rigid thinking
Postconventional Level:
Stage 5: Social construct orientation:
- Greater flexibility in thinking about societal rules
–> Acknowledge some people may break societal rules if personal ethics conflict
Stage 6: Individual principles and conscience orientation:
- Develop personal code of ethics
- -> Equity and justice
- Few people reach this stage
Ethical Principles
¨Autonomy
¨Justice
¨ Beneficence (do good)
¨Non-maleficence (do no harm)
¨Integrity
Autonomy
¤Capacity to determine one’s own life and make one’s own decisions
- Informed consent
Justice
¤Procedural
Fairness in selection
nE.g., deciding who will be admitted to a treatment program with a long waiting list, recruitment of research participants
¤Distributive
Benefits and risks should be shared fairly
nE.g., there is no unfair burden of participation in research on particular groups
¨Deontological nature
¨ Beneficence (do good)
¤Cost-benefit ratio – benefits must outweigh costs
nE.g. benefits to society from research findings must outweigh harm to participants
¨Non-maleficence (do no harm)
¤E.g., evidence-based practice, valid and reliable diagnostic tools
¤If harm is unavoidable, take steps to minimise harm
¨Utilitarian nature
