PR Ethics Ch. 6

Divine right of kings

The traditional political and religious doctrine asserting that a monarch derives their right to rule directly from the will of God, giving them absolute authority.

Rational equality

Kant's revolutionary principle holding that all rational, autonomous humans have equal decision-making power, moral authority, and capacity to reason regardless of class, gender, or status.

Moral constructivism

The philosophical view that rational deliberation and social interaction construct our moral understanding, which can be analyzed and unpacked through reasoned principles.

Cultural relativism

The non-normative approach holding that ethical solutions are relative to the specific culture, traditions, or geographic location in which they occur.

Moral autonomy

The capacity of a rational individual to independently determine their obligations under the moral law through reason alone, free from external coercion or bias.

Social desirability bias

The tendency for people to report that they are far more ethical, compliant, or socially expected than their actual behavior demonstrates.

Bias

Prejudices, cultural influences, or partialities that taint one's ability to judge the true moral and universal worth of a decision objectively.

Prudential self-interest (selfishness)

Self-serving motivation that immediately biases an action in favor of the decision-maker, destroying the moral intent required for an ethical choice.

Groupthink

A psychological phenomenon where a group shuts out alternate ideas, critical data, or rational assessments in favor of social acceptance, conformity, or leadership pressure.

Categorical imperative

Kant's practical moral tests used to rationally analyze an ethical dilemma and determine universal duty.

Environmental turbulence

The rapid, unpredictable social, political, economic, and technological changes surrounding modern organizational operations.

Boundary spanner

A professional (such as a strategic communicator) who purposefully crosses the organizational boundary to research external stakeholders and bring environmental information inside.

Issue forecasting

Future-looking research and predictive analytics used to identify emerging issues early so an organization can plan and construct strategy.

Environmental scanning

The systematic use of research, data analytics, and listening to reveal potential issues emerging in the external environment.

Issue monitoring

The ongoing tracking and documentation of prioritized issues once they have been identified and evaluated by an organization.

Strategies in issue response

The operational approaches an organization can take when responding to issues, categorized as inactive, reactive, proactive, or interactive.

Strategic intelligence approach

A modern issues management strategy combining advanced predictive analytics, AI, and rigorous ethical analysis to shape the environment, prevent missteps, and create long-term competitive advantage.