Importance Of Ethical Dilemmas In Psychology

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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

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