The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct presents information on ethical standards and expectations that apply to specific situations, including therapy and research.
For this discussion,
1) Explain the differences between the ethical standards for clients being treated by psychologists in counseling sessions and the standards for conducting psychological research with human participants.
2) Describe the parts of the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct you expect to relate directly to your future career. Include the section numbers of the parts of the code you discuss.
3) Select and provide the number for one ethical requirement that applies specifically to psychological research and briefly summarize the standard.
4) Explain why this requirement may not apply to a therapy situation.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Differences between Ethical Standards in Counseling Sessions and Psychological Research:
The ethical standards for clients being treated by psychologists in counseling sessions and the standards for conducting psychological research with human participants have some key differences. Here are a few distinctions:
Informed Consent: In counseling sessions, psychologists obtain informed consent from clients before starting therapy. Clients are provided with information about the nature of therapy, its potential risks and benefits, and their right to participate or withdraw at any time. In psychological research, obtaining informed consent is also crucial, but the process might involve additional components such as disclosing any potential conflicts of interest or explaining the purpose of the research.
Confidentiality: Psychologists in counseling sessions must maintain confidentiality to protect the privacy of their clients. They are obliged to discuss limits to confidentiality and any circumstances that may require breaking confidentiality, such as imminent harm to self or others. In psychological research, confidentiality is also essential, but participants’ identities are often anonymized to ensure privacy.
Dual Relationships: Psychologists in counseling sessions must avoid engaging in dual relationships that could compromise the therapeutic relationship, such as entering into romantic or financial relationships with clients. In psychological research, researchers must also avoid dual relationships, but they have an additional responsibility to maintain objectivity and minimize potential bias.
Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct Relevant to My Future Career:
As a future psychologist, several sections of the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct directly relate to my career. These include:
Section 1: Resolving Ethical Issues: This section provides general guidelines on identifying and resolving ethical dilemmas that may arise in professional practice. It emphasizes the importance of considering ethical principles and seeking consultation when facing challenging situations.
Section 2: Competence: This section highlights the importance of maintaining competence in professional practice through continued education and training. It also outlines the ethical obligation to refer clients to other professionals when appropriate.
Section 4: Privacy and Confidentiality: This section addresses the importance of protecting client privacy and maintaining confidentiality. It guides psychologists on the limits of confidentiality and the circumstances under which it may be breached.
Ethical Requirement for Psychological Research:
One ethical requirement specific to psychological research is Standard 8.10 – Reporting Research Results. This standard states that psychologists should take responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of their research reports. They should strive to accurately represent their findings, including any limitations or biases that may have influenced the results.
Why this Requirement May Not Apply to a Therapy Situation:
This requirement may not directly apply to a therapy situation because therapy is focused on supporting the well-being and growth of clients rather than reporting research findings. In therapy, the psychologist’s primary goal is to provide effective treatment and support to the client, ensuring their mental health needs are met. While therapists may engage in outcome measurement or research-informed practice, the primary focus is on client care rather than disseminating research results.
In summary, the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct provide guidelines for psychologists in various professional contexts. The standards for counseling sessions and psychological research differ due to the unique nature of these settings. As a future psychologist, I expect to follow sections related to resolving ethical issues, maintaining competence, and ensuring privacy and confidentiality. One specific ethical requirement for psychological research is Standard 8.10 – Reporting Research Results, which emphasizes the responsibility of psychologists to accurately represent their findings. This requirement may not directly apply to therapy situations as therapy primarily focuses on client care rather than reporting research outcomes.
