Employing Ethical Codes and Decision‐Making Models: A Developmental Process

Abstract

Counselors often encounter seemingly intractable ethical dilemmas. To assist counselors who face difficult situations, the helping professions have generated both ethical codes and decision‐making models. Because the process of decision making seems to be related to cognitive‐moral development, this article details ethical codes and decision models and speculates on how counselor level of development may influence use of such codes and models.

Issues and Insights: Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, and Counseling Ethics: Not an Abstraction

“…Addressing the argument that it could be assumed that graduate students had already gained the necessary conceptual skills for identifying and analyzing moral issues as undergraduate students, Losito noted that most undergraduates took only one course in philosophy and that this single course was insufficient to presume the development of such sophisticated skills. Like many others (e.g., Engels, 1981;Kitchener, 1984b;Mabe & Rollin, 1986;Neukrug, Lovell, & Parker, 1996;Talbutt, 1981), Losito recognized the limitations of codes of ethics. He indicated that the argument that it was enough for professionals to know their code(s) of ethics was erroneous.…”

Value-Based Leadership in Organizations: Balancing Values, Interests, and Power Among Citizens, Workers, and Leaders

“…Garfat & Ricks, 1995;Hill, Glaser, & Harden, 1995;Neukrug, Lovell, & Parker, 1996;Pettifor, 1996;Plante, 1995;Woody, 1990). The problem is that individuals cannot read ethical dilemmas "objectively."…”

Researcher Perceptions of Ethical Guidelines and Codes of Conduct

“…Additionally, lapses in ethical judgment from prestigious, credible, and powerful corporate employees can undermine the credibility of their organizations or professions (Bayles, 1981; Frankel, 1989; Savan, 1989; Kerr & Smith, 1995). Indeed, ethical codes of conduct provide a valuable source of information for individuals engaged in ethical decision making (Neukrug, Lovell, & Parker, 1996). A code of ethics is a written, formal document consisting of moral standards and guidelines intended to help guide employee or corporate behavior (Schwartz, 2002; Stevens, 1994).…”