Personal code of ethics assignment

Psychology Ethics Essay

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Overview of the topic

In the second ethical dilemma called teaching Tara, it shows us the the story between psychology professor Dr. Rudy and his female student Tara. In the beginning, they have maintained good relations between teachers and students. Soon afterwards, for the convenience of work, they start to meet in office even hang out for dinner every week.

I think the first conflict occur this point. The relationship between these two people or their actions like hanging out for dinner will be more of a friendship rather than the normal relationships between professors and students. Now, the issue is Dr. Rudy always pay the dinner when they eat together. I do not think it is a good idea, because their relationship will become more complicated if they mix finances and friendship.

Tara had great performance in class before, but she did not perform well in class, either on her work. Dr. Rudy still gave her the same score as before, because he thought that he knows her well. Also, he considered that maybe Tara is struggling in her personal issue.

I think the problem here is Tara’s performance in his course is worse than before, but she still got high grades. It seems unfair to the other students in the same class. If her classmates feel the professor is bias , that will injure trust and respect of each other. But more seriously, the relationship between professor and Tara may be misunderstood by others.

Dr. Rudy also talked his consideration about Tara to another professor called Cline. I am not sure what did Dr. Rudy said to Cline in detail, because if he did not told Cline about Tara’s personal issue, only talked about her class participation is fine. But, if he also told her personal issue to the third people without her agreement, that is the invasion of privacy. Also, According to Dr. Cline’s words, another problem here is Tara’s performance only change in Dr. Ruby’s class. That means it might be something wrong about her attitude to Dr. Rudy, because she treats him differently.

Argument for the behavior

In the beginning, I support with Dr. Rudy’s action. He praises Tara in class, and give her good grades based on her great performance in class. And also, as a professor to help her and give advices on personal issue. Everything until now is reasonable for me until increased frequency of their meeting.

I did not agree with them when they hang out and have meal together weekly. I think they should not be as close as friends. Based on number 3 human relations in APA ethical code of ethics, “(a) Psychologists refrain from initiating an activity when they know or should know that there is a substantial likelihood that their personal problems will prevent them from performing their work-related activities in a competent manner.” that means if Dr. Rudy knows his action will affect their normal relationship, he has to avoid instead of ignore the problem and have dinner with Tara. (American Psychological Association) Another point I strongly against with, is Dr. Rudy paid the meal for Tara. Their relationship became more deeper or closer than the professor’s relationship with his other students this time. In code 3.05, it explains that “the multiple relationship could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist’s objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist.” (American Psychological Association)

Different than buying a meal for student, I agree with Rudy when he sending student back home in bad weather day. I think is kind of manner and protection for students instead of ethical problem. But a detail here, is they stay together until it’s getting dark outside. I think they should not meet until late time. If they end up earlier, they may avoid this awkward situation. In number 3 human relations in APA ethical code, it says “(b) When psychologists become aware of personal problems that may interfere with their performing work-related duties adequately, they take appropriate measures, such as obtaining professional consultation or assistance and determine whether they should limit, suspend or terminate their work-related duties.” (American Psychological Association)

I also strongly against Dr. Rudy’s behavior here, when he still gave Tara high grades when she perform worse in class. That means his decision has be affected by their friendship already, and it seems unfair to other students. Also, Rudy made up excuses for Tara, that she act weird because she has personal issue and he knows that well. Rudy is a professor, he should not have double standard for students. In 7.05 Mandatory Individual or Group Therapy, “(b) Faculty who are or are likely to be responsible for evaluating students’ academic performance do not themselves provide that therapy.” And also in 7.06 Assessing Student and Supervisee Performance, it says“(b) Psychologists evaluate students and supervisees on the basis of their actual performance on relevant and established program requirements.” (American Psychological Association)

In the last part in this article, Dr. Rudy shared his consideration about Tara with Dr. Cline. When Dr. Cline said he did not hear personal issue from Tara, that means Rudy may talked about that Tara has personal issue. I don’t agree his behavior this time because I thought that he violated the privacy law, because he told the third person about Tara without her agreement. In standard 4 Privacy and Confidentiality in APA ethical code, part 4.04 explains to us that “Psychologists include in written and oral reports and consultations, minimizing Intrusions on Privacy. Also in code 4.06, “When consulting with colleagues, psychologists do not disclose confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of a client/patient, unless they have obtained the prior consent of the person or organization or the disclosure cannot be avoided, and (2) they disclose information only to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation.” (American Psychological Association)

Conclusion

I support some of Dr. Rudy’s behaviors, like giving Tara good grades when she works hard, helping her to solve problem and sending her back home in snow day to avoid danger. I think these things that he did are within the relations between teachers and students. The behaviors that I against, like having meeting and dinner together frequently, paying for meals. All of these problems reflect their friendship, but they should keep same distance as Dr. Rudy with other students in the same class. The most important thing is as a professor, Dr. Rudy lost justice here, because he did not change grades when Tara’s participation become worse. This against justice rule in APA ethical code. When he shared his thoughts about Tara with Dr. Cline, especially told him that Tara has personal issue, that broke the law of privacy. According to APA ethical code about multiple relations, “If a psychologist finds that, due to unforeseen factors, a potentially harmful multiple relationship has arisen, the psychologist takes reasonable steps to resolve it with due regard for the best interests of the affected person and maximal compliance with the Ethics Code. ” (American Psychological Association) So I recommend Dr. Rudy to refuse her dinner invitation in the future. Also fix her grades based on normal standard for evaluation, show fairness to the class. Trying to reduce times of helping Tara with her personal problem, only focus about course or academic topics. After the course done, end the relationship before it caused problem for both Rudy and Tara.

References

American Psychological Association. (2010, June 01). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and

Code of Conduct. Retrieved April 30, 2019, from

https://ulearn.jwu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-5050400-dt-content-rid-24612712_1/courses/Spri

ng2019_PSYC1020_PA_35482_DP/APA ethical code.pdf