Dr. Daniela Yeung, a health psychologist, has been conducting a federally funded ethnographic study of

couples in which the male partner has been paroled following conviction and imprisonment for intimate

partner violence (IPV). Over the course of a year, she has had individual monthly interviews with 25

couples while one partner was in jail and following their release. Aiden is a 35-year-old male parolee

convicted of seriously injuring his wife. He and his wife, Maya, have been interviewed by Dr. Yeung on

eight occasions. The interviews have covered a range of personal topics including Aiden’s problem

drinking, which is marked by blackouts and threatening phone calls made to his wife when he becomes

drunk, usually in the evening. To her knowledge, Aiden has never followed through on these threats. Dr.

Yeung has the impression both Aiden and Maya feel a sense of social support when discussing their life

with Dr. Yeung. One evening Dr. Yeung checks her answering machine and finds a message from Aiden.

His words are slurred and angry: “Now that you know the truth about what I am you know that there is

nothing you can do to help the evil inside me. The bottle is my savior and I will end this with them tonight.”

She calls both Aiden’s and Maya’s cell phone numbers, but no one answers.
Ethical Dilemma
Dr. Yeung has Aiden’s address, and after 2 hours, she is considering whether or not to contact

emergency services to suggest that law enforcement officers go to Aiden’s home or to the homes of his

parents and girlfriend.

Respond to the following questions…..

1.Why is this an ethical dilemma? Which APA Ethical Principles help frame the nature of the dilemma?
2.Does this situation meet the standards set by the duty to protect statue? How might whether or not Dr.

Yeung’s state includes researchers under such a statute influence Dr. Yeung’s ethical decision making?

How might the fact that Dr. Yeung is a research psychologist without training or licensure in clinical

practice influence the ethical decision?
3.How are APA Ethical Standards 2.01a b, and c; 2.04; 3.04; 3.06; 4.01; 4.02; and 10.10a relevant to this

case? Which other standards might apply?
4.What are Dr. Yeung’s ethical alternatives for resolving this dilemma? Which alternative best reflects the

Ethics Code aspirational principle and enforceable standard, as well as legal standards and Dr. Yeung’s

obligations to stakeholders?
5.What steps should Dr. Yeungtake to ethically implement her decision and monitor its effects?

Sample Solution

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