Professional Ethics in Psychological Practice

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Personal Values and Morals according to the Case Scenario
Ethical Issue in the Case Scenario
Relationship Between Personal Morals and Values and APA Professional Codes
Resolving the Ethical Issue
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Every field is guided by the occupational code of conduct that dictates the professional behavior of individuals in it. At the same time, individuals have different personal values that shape their character and ambition. When the two are improperly managed, there may raise a conflict of interest between them with one being at the crossroads between satisfying the personal values and goals that come with it and following the professional codes of conduct in the occupation which is an obligation. Like other experts, psychologists are under some ethical principles that regulate the manner in which they do their business while providing their services to the people. Some of the principles include fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, respect, beneficence, and non-maleficence. These regulations work together to streamline the service provision in the field and ensure at no point should psychologists put their interests ahead of their clients.

Personal Values and Morals according to the Case Scenario

Individual characters and morals shape the personality of an individual thereby facilitating the ease of accepting and upholding the professional code of conduct. There is a thin line between ethical conducts and personal values. For instance, virtue such as honesty is likely to enhance the upholding of integrity and the ability of an individual to maintain that professional code (Fisher, 2017). On the other hand, negative personal values may hinder the ability of an individual to conform to the ethical principles in their occupation. Therefore, there exists a symbiotic relationship between the two concepts, with each complementing one another.

As in the case of psychologists whose ethical principles demand that they conduct their business with integrity, an honest individual in the field will not find difficulty in upholding the same since the ethical code conforms to their personal values. However, where virtues do not relate to ethical principles, there is a likeliness of a clash between the two. For example, where personal value inclines towards selfishness and greed, an individual will always tend to compromise the codes to enable them to advance their selfish ambitions by either overdoing or undertaking some actions to favor them (Opotow, 2022). This will therefore influence their decision-making to take the direction that favors their plans. As in the example of a person filled with greed and selfish ambitions, their decision-making will likely shift towards what favors and promotes vice. In the field of psychology, an individual with an unmatched appetite for greed may decide to overlook the ethical code of integrity and use their position to extort or invalidly acquire money and favors from unsuspecting clients.

In the psychology field, the ethical principle requires psychologists to maintain integrity by not committing professional fraud or being involved in any dishonest undertakings. While deception may sometimes be sanctioned, its use should be purely for therapeutic use and not for personal gain or fulfill personal interest. Practicing psychology requires an individual to be honest and make decisions that promote integrity when handling clients (O’Donohue & Fisher, 2022). Since most of their clients are vulnerable considering the nature of their conditions and sometimes illnesses, the professionals in this field may be tempted to use their power to malevolently manipulate things in their favor and use the position to enrich themselves unethically. Due to the absolute power, they wield over their clients, the desire to blackmail the vulnerable patients to extort money or defraud the process for personal gain may be overwhelming, thus the need to follow and be guided by the ethical principle of integrity.

Ethical Issue in the Case Scenario

In the case study, the ethical principle of integrity is under test. The psychologist is using his position unethically by engaging in professional fraud and dishonesty in defiance of the APA professional code of integrity. By seemingly collaborating with the attorney to influence the outcomes of the criminal cases for personal gain, the psychologist is misusing his position something which is against the occupational ethics of the field. The fact that all the cases have the same forensic psychologist and the same defense attorney implies that the duo is cooperating to manipulate and influence the outcomes of the cases, probably for personal growth by enriching themselves businesswise, personal glory, and maybe to entice more clients. This is unethical conduct in the profession of the psychologist. The APA professional code of integrity which guides the occupation and should be upheld by the experts in the field is being undermined by the officer in his illicit dealings with the attorney.

Relationship Between Personal Morals and Values and APA Professional Codes

The psychologist in question is determined to achieve personal growth in an unethical way, indicating a possible negative personal value of greed and selfishness. With a positive value of honesty, the psychologist would not be engaging in proficient fraud and cheating businesses, but since the value is lacking, occupational theft and dishonesty have taken the center stage in psychological experts’ decision-making. Virtues and APA professional codes have a close relationship as they supplement each other (Bosma & Granger, 2022). Individual values such as honesty complement the APA career principle of integrity, and the lack of it shows an equal lack of supporting virtue.

As demonstrated in the case study, the psychologist involved in professional fraud and dishonesty lacks the supplementary personal value for the practice of integrity. This proves the close relationship between character and APA career codes. As is the case, positive personal values motivate ethical conduct and observance of the same, while negative individual morals inspire unethical conduct in an occupation. Experts with negative vices as in the case study are likely to make decisions in favor of unethical occupational codes and the conduct of the same.

Resolving the Ethical Issue

As an individual with the virtue of honesty, professional fraud and acts of dishonesty in the business goes against my values and the occupational codes I subscribe to. The psychologist was motivated by negative values which influenced their decision-making, leading them to unethical conduct. Even though the same APA codes require colleagues to conduct their business in confidentiality and with utmost respect among themselves. By disclosing the fraud in dealings between the attorney and the psychologist with the help of their records, I will be going against the principle of confidentiality and shattering the respect enjoyed between us. However, sworn to strictly follow and protect the career principles provided, it is appropriate to disclose the occupational theft undertaken by the duo and uphold integrity. This will help to stop the vice and protect the unsuspecting victims from their dirty dealings. Consequently, I will solve the ethical issue by exposing the close connections between the cases and halt the fraud promoted by the two. This will help to promote the APA professional code of conduct and instill positive personal values within the organization and protect the general image.

Conclusion

Generally, an ethical behavior is an essential aspect of every profession. All practitioners irrespective of their area of work should embrace morality to make their practice effective. Psychologists are supposed to maintain high level of personal values to ensure they serve the clients with dignity. Based on the provided case scenario, work ethics and the general conducts have been tested to give proper insight on how to respond in different circumstances.

References

Bosma, C. M., & Granger, A. M. (2022). Sharing is caring: Ethical implications of transparent research in psychology. American Psychologist.77(4), 565–575. Web.

Fisher, C. B. (2017). Decoding the ethics code: A practical guide for psychologists. Sage Publications.

O’Donohue, W., & Fisher, J. E. (2022). Are illiberal acts unethical? APA’s Ethics Code and the protection of free speech. American Psychologist, 77(8), 875–886. Web.

Opotow, S. (2022). Subverting an ethical code: American Psychological Association and the post-9/11 war on terror. Qualitative Psychology. 9(3), 344–358. Web.

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