Practical Ethics for Psychologists: Foundations and Applications
Psychologists are motivated by career and ethical ideals shaped by personal values. The science of morality shows that ethical knowledge doesn't always lead to action, as decisions are influenced by emotion and intuition rather than purely rational thought. Haidt's Moral Foundations Theory identifies five core value systems: Care, Fairness, Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity. Moral dumbfounding demonstrates that judgments are often intuitive and then rationalized.
Formal philosophical systems enhance ethical acuity and decision-making:
Virtue Ethics focuses on cultivating character virtues (e.g., prudence, integrity).
Deontological (Duty-Based) Ethics, led by Kant, emphasizes fulfilling absolute duties (Categorical Imperatives) regardless of consequences.
Utilitarianism, by Bentham and Mill, aims to maximize overall happiness and well-being through consequential actions.
Principle-Based (Prima Facie) Ethics, developed by Ross, proposes duties (e.g., fidelity, justice) that hold unless overridden by superior obligations. Beauchamp and Childress identified six key principles for biomedical ethics: Beneficence, Nonmaleficence (), Respect for patient autonomy, Justice, Fidelity, and Public Responsibility. Infringement of a principle requires strong justification.
Psychologists should strive for "moral maximalism," integrating personal ethical beliefs with professional roles. The Acculturation Model identifies four strategies for this integration: Integrated (ideal), Assimilated, Separated, and Marginalized.
The APA Ethics Code serves to protect the public, educate, and act as a public relations tool. It includes an aspirational Preamble and General Principles, and enforceable Ethical Standards. These Standards are linked to prima facie moral principles, with key standards reflecting core principles, others clarifying them, and exceptions allowed under specific justifications (e.g., deception in research under strict conditions to promote public welfare, providing emergency services), while minimizing harm to overridden principles.