Bonnie Bruise Case study

Case Study Summary

In the Bonnie Bruised case study, Bonnie tells her professor that she has been a victim of domestic violence by her boyfriend. She explains that her boyfriend has been physically violent with her, bruising her and even fracturing her wrist. She also adds that her boyfriend was stalking her at the time and seemed to be possessive and obsessive with her. However, Bonnie refuses any assistance from campus police, putting her professor in a dilemma on whether to respect her wishes in maintaining the secrecy of the situation or report the abuse based on concerns about her well-being.

Assessment of Culture and Social Orientation

Ethical behavior and choices are influenced by cultural and social conditioning. For instance, teachers have social and cultural conditioning that requires them to protect student interests, especially when safety matters are involved (Zheng, 2022). Such conditioning may create a situation in which the professor might feel duty-bound to protect Bonnie from harm, even if it means violating her confidentiality. However, the professor’s decision may be influenced by adherence to individualistic culture. According to Fatehi et al.(2020), individualistic cultures consider personal privacy and autonomy as an integral part of their culture. Therefore, the professor may refrain from acting without Bonnie’s consent. The professor must also observe the institutional code of conduct that demands the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly in learning settings. This code creates a social obligation for the professor to openly report cases of abuse, which creates tension in balancing Bonnie’s autonomy against an ethical principle that guarantees her safety.

Cultural and Social Orientation Effecting Ethics in Practice

The interactions between the professor and Bonnie will be informed by the professor’s authority status and social obligation to protect the student’s well-being. The professor is an authority figure on the campus, placing him in a position where he can make decisions that impact the students including the decision to involve authorities in creating a safe environment for students. Therefore, involving the campus police in Bonnie’s case may seem like a violation of her confidentiality and autonomy but could yield positive results if legal action is taken against Bonnie’s boyfriend. The professor also has a professional obligation to take care of and protect students from potential harm which requires taking necessary actions even at the cost of breaking confidentiality. Therefore, ethical conduct in this case creates a balance between cultural expectations of support and mandated reporting to prevent harm.

Criteria That Justify the Various Ethical Strategies

Specific criteria that can help the practitioner identify an appropriate ethical action include limiting harm, promoting the client’s interest, and satisfying legal obligations. Ethical actions are justified if they promote the principles of beneficence, or wellness, and nonmaleficence, or no harm (Varkey, 2020). In this scenario, the professor must consider whether reporting Bonnie’s case serves her safety interests since mandated reporting is conducted to protect individuals from a potential threat. However, the professor must balance the client’s autonomy and the duty in action to avoid harm by informing Bonnie why it is important to report the matter to the campus police and the decision to involve the campus police. The professor may also inform the campus police about Bonnie’s case even without her consent due to the severity of the risk and Bonnie’s refusal to contact authorities.

Impact of Current Issues on Ethical Decision Making

Current social issues like the prevalence of domestic violence on campuses and mandatory reporting laws impact ethical decision making in psychology and education. The increase in domestic violence awareness has led to strict reporting guidelines and support mechanisms aimed at addressing the issue. Therefore, the professor’s action could be regarded as ethical if they are safety-oriented and follow the rules and regulations set by the institution on abuse prevention. Contemporary understanding of trauma and the support of victims also push educators, psychologists, and other mandated reporters to act against actions that could cause trauma and acknowledge the possible harm of inaction in cases involving abuse or violence.

References

Fatehi, K., Priestley, J. L., & Taasoobshirazi, G. (2020). The expanded view of individualism and collectivism: One, two, or four dimensions? International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 20(1), 7-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470595820913077

Varkey, B. (2020). Principles of clinical ethics and their application to practice. Medical Principles and Practice, 30(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119

Zheng, F. (2022). Fostering students’ well-being: The mediating role of teacher interpersonal behavior and student-teacher relationships. ahttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.796728

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Abstract

• I chose case study 14-37: Bonnie Bruised. I related to Bonnie on a personal level as a survivor of domestic violence. I have also been in the professor position as a Military leader, deciding if I betray the soldier’s trust or put their well-being first. Bonnie Bruised confided in her professor that she was fearful of her life. Her boyfriend was highly abusive, beating her, leaving extensive bruises, and breaking her wrist. He was stalking her at the time and seemed to be possessive and obsessive with her. Surprised by Bonnie’s statement and worried for their well-being, the professor strongly encouraged her to contact the campus police and the counseling center. Bonnie swiftly refused any type of police help. The professor is now left with a conflict between reporting the situation to higher school officials or keeping the situation confidential.