Considering a social dilemma in practice: Using a code of ethics to inform decision making
It is known that on a daily basis practicing psychologists will face ethical dilemmas; this has been illustrated by Banks when she cited that ethical dilemmas can occur when choices are necessary between multiple alternatives all of which are equally unwelcoming. This may evoke conflict amongst moral values, making the correct choice less clear to decipher (Banks, 2006). In addition, Banks has implied how decision making about another’s welfare can frequently involve issues which are both personal and painful, thus judgements will need to be made which are ethical and promote human welfare (Banks, 2012). Many challenges are posed here as decisions made by a psychologist will frequently change the lives of service users. In knowledge of this, it is crucial for a psychologist to accordingly provide justification for their actions and in-actions.
When determining action, facts alone should not be the sole indicator as cited in the literature values are needed to make (Beckett, 2007). In a psychologist role it is imperative to work on the basis of strong values. For instance, some issues may present if a psychologist relies on their personal values, as it is common for these to conflict professionally. This phenomenon is what was referred to by Banks as conflict of moral values (Banks, 2012). It is not the case that personal values should be eradicated due to conflicting professional values, and more an awareness of continuously reviewing assumptions, while welcoming alternatives (Beckett, 2007).
This can be observed in the infamous case study of the Bertram family where all of the options are unwelcoming for the family and through which the psychologist should be able to navigate while being aware of their values and the intricate complexities (Wilson, 2008). Therefore for the purpose of this essay, using case studies from within the Bertram family, I will...