The Ethical Decision-Making Process

The Ethical Decision-Making Process

Ethical decision-making is critical to the role of psychologists; however, ethical decision-making often requires consideration of competing concerns since it is not always clear which decisions have ethical implications (Banks et al., 2022). In this regard, ethical decision-making frameworks become vital as psychologists require a model to determine the methodology for tackling ethical dilemmas from the case studies they encounter. Therefore, having a clear understanding of the eight-step ethical decision-making model, ethical strategies, and alternative decision-making models and being able to determine culture and social orientations and multiple role relationship issues in particular case studies are essential steps in the ethical decision-making process.

The Eight-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model

The eight-step ethical decision-making model includes the following:

• Step 1: Identifying the problem
• Step 2: Gathering information on the issue
• Step 3: Identifying the people to be impacted by the decision
• Step 4: Identifying and evaluating alternatives
• Step 5: Applying ethical principles
• Step 6: Deciding on the best-fit option for the situation
• Step 7: Implementing the best alternative
• Step 8: Evaluating the outcomes and redesigning the alternative implemented

The eight-step ethical decision-making model can be applied to resolve the ethical conflict in Case 14-37 involving Bonnie Bruised, a student, and Professor Disclose, following the student’s relationship issues and assault from her boyfriend. Applying the model’s step, one can easily identify the problem. Bonnie Bruised reported the case to her Professor but is reluctant to report the same to the school’s security office and counselling center. The Professor has to choose whether to report the case themselves or handle it. In this case, the ethical conflict is that of confidentiality and privacy against beneficence. Step 2 will focus on collecting further information related to the case. The Professor can seek to determine whether the boyfriend is a student or an outsider, which can guide the next course of action. The third step is to identify the people affected by the case and the decisions made. In this case, Bonnie Bruised will be directly affected by the decisions made. The Professor also risks having a complicated relationship with the student. The fourth and fifth steps identify alternatives that can help resolve the ethical conflict and weigh them against the ethical principles in psychology. In this case, the Professor can decide which action is more beneficial in ensuring the safety of the student at the moment and in the long run. In the next steps, Professor Disclose can opt for the best-fit option he has, such as reporting the case to the institution, although it may violate the patient’s privacy and complicate their student-tutor relationship. However, the outcomes of the implemented alternative are more of a concern at the moment. The Professor can discuss with the student why the alternative selected is the best option to solve the situation. An advantage of using the eight-step ethical decision-making model is that the sequence of the model can be restructured based on the specificity of the decisions to be made (Neal, 2010).

Ethical Strategy

The eight-step model is the ethical strategy for Bonnie Bruised and Professor Disclose’s case. This decision-making model is preferred as it will first appreciate Bonnie Bruised and Professor Disclose and how each decision and action will affect them. This will enable the Professor to approach the situation in a way that respects the student’s privacy while ensuring they get the protection they deserve. The eight-step ethical decision-making model will also help address the situation through open communication, especially when discussing the alternatives to solve the ethical issue.

Alternative Decision-Making Model

An alternative model for making ethical decisions is the Virtue Model of decision-making. The virtue model approaches decision-making from a virtue ethics perspective. Applying virtues in decision-making requires the decision-maker to be honest, compassionate, a person of integrity, and with a sense of responsibility. This means that in professional settings, the ethical choice is made through moral reasoning, in which judgments are based on morals and intent, as well as the professional’s moral beliefs (Small & Lew, 2021). In this case, Professor Disclose will decide on Bonnie Bruised’s case from a virtue-based perspective and apply their professional moral beliefs and moral intent to report or not report the student’s case.

Statement of Culture and Social Orientations

Cultural and social orientations shape ethics and ethical decisions. In Bonnie Bruised’s case, it is important to consider her family and cultural background to understand why she is reluctant to report her situation to the right channels. Evidence shows that certain life experiences can prevent women from reporting assault (Slatton & Richard, 2020). On the other hand, past experiences of trauma can have long-term mental health effects (Rothman et al., 2019). Considering the student’s background and culture can help avoid cultural instances of biases and stereotyping. The ethical strategy employed in the case can resolve issues related to multicultural competence as it will approach decision-making in a way that is sensitive to the student’s culture, respects their decisions, and involves them in the decision-making process.

Statement of Multiple Role Relationship Issues

There are no identified instances of multiple-role relationships in Bonnie Bruised and Professor Disclose’s case. However, the development of the ethical strategy considers the potential ethical conflicts that may arise due to extra relationships developing between the student and the Professor or another individual. The strategy also adopts open communication and respect for the student’s rights and autonomy. Additionally, the ethical strategy aims to maintain the relationship between the student and Professor only in a professional capacity to avoid further ethical and legal complications.

References

Banks, G. C., Knapp, D. J., Lin, L., Sanders, C. S., & Grand, J. A. (2022). Ethical decision making in the 21st century: A useful framework for industrial-organizational psychologists. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 15(2), 220–235. https://doi.org/10.1017/iop.2021.143

Neal, T. M. S. (2010). Choosing the lesser of two evils: A framework for considering the ethics of competency-for-execution evaluations. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, 10(2), 145–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228930903446724

Rothman, K., Georgia Salivar, E., Roddy, M. K., Hatch, S. G., & Doss, B. D. (2019). Sexual Assault Among Women in College: Immediate and Long-Term Associations With Mental Health, Psychosocial Functioning, and Romantic Relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519870158

Slatton, B. C., & Richard, A. L. (2020). Black Women’s Experiences of sexual assault and Disclosure: Insights from the Margins. Sociology Compass, 14(6), e12792. https://doi.org/10.1111/SOC4.12792

Small, C., & Lew, C. (2021). Mindfulness, Moral Reasoning, and Responsibility: Towards Virtue in Ethical Decision-Making. Journal of Business Ethics, 169(1), 103–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10551-019-04272-Y/

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Prompt: In Milestone Four, you will create two decision-making models to assess your case study vignette’s ethical conflict and address multiple role relationships and culture and social orientation. This milestone will further refine the outline you worked on in Milestones Two and Three.

The Ethical Decision-Making Process

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed within the final project outline template:

1. Eight-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model: List the eight-step ethical decision-making model. Apply the model to the ethical conflict in your chosen case study.
2. Ethical Strategy: Develop an ethical strategy and explain how it could be applied to your chosen case’s ethical
3. Alternative Decision-Making Model: Describe an alternative decision-making model, then apply the model to the ethical conflict in your chosen case study.
4. Statement of Culture and Social Orientations: Explain how culture and social orientations have influenced the development of the proposed ethical strategy. Assess how the strategy addresses ethical problems associated with multicultural competence issues in your chosen case.
5. Statement of Multiple Role Relationship Issues: Explain how considerations of multiple role relationship issues have influenced the development of the proposed ethical strategy and assess how strategy addresses ethical problems associated with multiple role relationship issues in your chosen case study.