Introduction
This paper discusses in details the existing code of ethics which psychologist must follow in order to bring about personal and social benefits in order to solve various ethical dilemmas. Psychologists should thus follow the set code of ethics at all times. This paper also appraises this particular statement by critically drawing Singapore as a multicultural environment (Aoyagi & Portenga, 2010). Various APA and BPS ethics code have been highlighted. These are quite significant to the career of psychologists in bringing various merits at the cultural level. Psychologists follow these code of ethics and Cornel ethical decision making model in order to make the cultural society a better place government by proper ethical behavior.
Responsible psychologist practices needs the psychologist to base the actions on critically informed, sound and responsible decision, consultation with other colleagues, maintenance of personal knowledge and skills, active engagement in self-evaluation and also remain transparent. During making of ethical decisions, the psychologist should be ready to include the client in the existing ethical decision making process. The available clients require adequate information regarding the therapeutic process in order to have a good flow in making better decisions. The existing informed process starts with the intake interview and also continues through time frame scheduled for the therapeutic relationship to take place (Barnett, & Molzon,2014). The main objective is to actively ensure that the clients participates in a collaborative partnership. Another aim is to make ethical decision with clients and not necessary make a decision for them. The psychologist ability to respect the autonomy of the client literally indicates that the psychologist neither decides for clients nor fosters dependent attitudes and conduct. Cornel et al(1998)Eight steps in making ethical decision s ought to be quite a collaborative process between the psychologist and the client.therefore,it is important that the psychologist utilizes the ethical decision making model in order make informed decisions when faced with a particular ethical dilemma.
Ethical dilemma:Homosexuality
It is a fact that ethical dilemmas may not at all tomes be readily resolved through the utilization of codes of ethics (Bartolo,2010). The following frameworks is quite useful in order to analyze and make informed ethical decisions based on the model
Steps
Identification of the current problem
Identification of the existing potential issues involved
Review applicable moral rules.
Analyze relevant laws and regulations
Acquire consultation from colleagues
Focus on possible and probable courses of action
Identify the implications of the given probable course of action
An Ethical Decision Making Model
Problem
In this case, the problem at hand is the issue of homosexuality. A certain gay couple in therapy w admits that they are having gay sex, which is criminalized.
Issues
It is evident that societal attitudes towards the issue of homosexuality differ across various cultures and generations. Various cultures have their own values on either appropriate or inappropriate sexuality. Some communities usually sanction same sex love while others do not condone such particular and is considered as a taboo.
It is evident that various prescription sand proscription s are normally offered to people regarding their gender, age, social class and sexual orientation issues.
Many of the global culture have associate d the homosexuality with unacceptable norms. Various religion such as those influenced by Abrahamic tradition disapprove homosexual acts and relationships in most case emphasizing on severe punishments to those individual caught having same sexual encounter various studies have done extensive research regarding the prevalence of acceptance and disapproval of this particular act. They have argued that it highly correlates with demographic, psychological and social domains.
As a psychologist one should be aware on the examining the underlying motivations towards gays hostility from the community. Homosexuals are widely criticized and stigmatized in the society
Moral
In this particular society where the clients are from, homosexuality is regarded to be highly immoral.
The society ethical codes, values and norms are against this particular behavior.it is widely unaccepted even in the religion. Therefore, these couples have been alienated from the society facing a high degree of hostility, discrimination and violence regarding to the existing social; orientation.
The youth are taught not to engage in moral misconduct such as homosexuality
Laws
The legal status of homosexuality literally differs around the globe. Various homosexual acts between tow adults with personal consent are seen to be illegal in approximately 70 nations across the globe.
It is evident that homosexual sex acts between two gay individuals is quite illegal especially using the sodomy laws.in most countries this particular act is often prosecuted under utilization of the term public decency or morality laws.
Some nations, entities and workplace have discrimination legislation and; laws that are against this particular sexual orientation.it is against rules of workplaces such as in the housing, health and education sector.
However there exist some legal recognition of same sex relationships in various nations which at the same time varies in a great way. These legal privileges pertaining homosexuality revolve around parenting and accessing reproductive technologies.
According to the law, these sex relationships are prohibited and lack mediation or arbitration techniques, property custodian in case this particular relationship comes to an end. Several religion practices have laws which are particularly aimed at excluding same sex couples from specific human rights like adoption of children (Gauthier, Pettifor & Ferrero,2010).
As a psychologist making the gay couples ware of the existing laws us quite important.
Acquire consultation from colleagues
The psychologist should acknowledge and do further research through constant consultation with the other colleagirs.in this way the psychologist will have acquired wide range of knowledge on how to handle the matter properly. Consultation process is important since the psychologist identify some of the mistakes and chooses one of the best channel to take in offering the couples the therapy that they required
Focus on possible and probable courses of action
The psychologist should help the couples weigh on the consequences. Since the couples wish to reform, they should be willing to take on the ethical course of action (Jacob, Decker, & Lugg,2016). The psychologist should be confidential to their matter. The psychologist should also make them aware of the benefits of changing their behavior towards making the society better position. The possible course of action is end their relationship since after weighing everything, this relationship will cause harm to them and increase their psychological totrture.it will also lead to high stress.
Identify the implications of the given probable course of action
The couples should be aware of the impacts of their course of action. The society at hand may not accept them fully. They may still be alienated and discriminated from the society (Mohr 2010). The course of action is difficult to achieve but with continued guidance they will be able to make it and be successful.
An Ethical Decision Making Model
Wedding
1. Identify the issue.
Identification of a particular problem may highly be challenging as psychologist identify the existing diversity among behavior change when people immediately get married. Some of the problems may include behavior changes from the husband such as increase in marital fights (Lannin, & Scott,2013).
2. Identify the potential issues included.
Some of the issue include pressure from the parents’ home regarding the bride prices, learning to live with the faults of a person. The wedding expenses are a difficult potential issue which arise in the course of this particular event.
3. Review applicable moral rules.
Marriage is a viewed to be amoral thing in the society. The society holds highly of this event and considers it to be ethically guided (Nagy,2011). The couples carrying out their wedding should d be aware of the existing ethical codes and principles such as confidentiality, honesty, faithfulness, obedience and respect. The psychologist advices them to accept the morally accepted practices and norms in the society in order to have a lasting marriage.
4. Know applicable laws and guidelines.
There exist various marriage laws and rules in the government and society domain. Some laws include property possession and children custody in case of a marriage breakup especially in Singapore. Some laws also depict that there should be no domestic violence after marriage. Domestic violence offenders can be take n ton a court of law and offered punishment for the crime committed for example jail term and fine (Benjamin Jr, & Baker, 2014). These laws are highly applicable hence the psychologist should ensure that the couples acknowledge these particular regulations and take marriage as a law binding ceremony. They should also respect the law in order to be in a happy relationship.
5. Obtain Consultation.
Some other marital counselors ought to be consulted in order to continue guiding the couples
6. Consider conceivable and likely approaches.
Some of the approaches that will ensure a successful marriage includes acknowledging the benefits and risks involved in the marriage. They should always be ready to be with each other in times of problems or sorrow and share the happiness (Campbell,Vasquez, M., Behnke, & Kinscherff,2010).
7. List the results of the plausible game-plans.
Avoid domestic violence, be faithful and be respectful
Be loving and caring
Be supportive in the career goals and dreams
8. Implications of course of action
The couples decide that they will stick in their wedding plans and marry even if there exist challenges along the way. They are determine to be supportive and pull through the existing challenges. This course of action require various efforts and resources such as financial ones so that it cannot affect their decision and course of action.
Analysis
Various ethical guidelines can be delegated being either “negligible” or “optimistic”. Negligible moral benchmarks, as reflected in the APA Ethics Code is expected to be connected by the APA Committee and by different bodies that received explicit measures (Bartolo, 2010). Activities that abuse the benchmarks of the Ethics Code may likewise prompt the burden of assents on clinicians or understudies whether they are APA individuals by bodies other than APA, including state mental affiliations, other expert gatherings, brain research sheets, other state or government organizations and payers for wellbeing administrations (Fisher, 2009). As opposed to the Ethical Standards, as expressed in the General Principles, the optimistic standards of the Ethics Code are not proposed to speak to explicit commitments or the bases for forcing sanctions.
According to those case studies, the psychologist should ensure dignity, confidentiality, respect and responsibility in solving and offering a good decision regarding those particular ethical dilemmas
The psychologist is expected to respect peoples, cultural and job contracts. Singapore as a multicultural environment with pope who practice homosexuality makes psychologist be able to understand people from various domains depending on age, disability, education, ethnicity, gender orientation, race, religious differences and race (Sugarman, 2015).The psychologist in this case respect the stand of the wedding and the decision of the gay couples
They are able to understand people well and don’t discriminate them based on their marital status and also a socio-economic domain.
They ensure that psychologist respect the diversification of Singaporean culture knowledge, personal insights of the members of a particular culture.
They are also able to avoid unfair or prejudiced cultural practices such as homosexuality which affect Singapore as a whole nation (Kaslow,Patterson, & Gottlieb,2011). They are also able to ensure privacy and confidentiality of certain community’s culture in Singapore and ensure making of proper ethical decisions.
In his way, psychologists maintain ethical principles will ensure that various cultures in Singapore relate well and live harmoniously.
Over the years philosophers have really acquired a particular approach to norms.in the literature on norms and convention in various cultural contexts (Kolmes,2012). The psychologist ensures critical social constructs as the endogenous product if a person’s life interaction. The cultural norms are seen to be a series of strategies which ensure self-fulfilling expectations of the society.it is evident that, beliefs, common knowledge and expectation guide the central concepts in the growth of psychological view and understanding of social norms existing in the Singaporean culture (Wise, Hersh,& Gibson,2012 Therefore, multiple cultures in Singapore are able to gain knowledge and understand each other.th homosexual individuals can be accept de and treated fairly without violence. They close relationships makes them strong in case of problems and extends to international borders. It is thus agreeable that all psychologists have the responsibility to follow all the existing code of ethics and never deviate from its rules and principles since this can often lead to cultural problems in society.
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