Personal ethics is very important in psychology, and psychologists need to understand that ethical proceedings are imperative. Within the broader field of psychology, the individuals always initiate moral and ethical decisions in their everyday life. It is also important for these individuals to integrate the knowledge and experience in the best way possible, without any bias; and act towards promoting the ethical proficiency all through their career.
Ethics is a set of guidelines or rules that allow individuals within a given society to know the difference between and clearly distinguish between good and bad and right from wrong. Personal ethics is majorly concerned with moral values and rules. The codes of conduct or ethical standards are the rules of acceptable conduct in either professional behavior or personal behavior. In psychology; these principles, or the ethical standards, or the codes of conduct help in setting limitations and at the same time controls the inappropriate behaviors. It is important to note that the standards and codes are not universal and are always changing depending on the situation.
In psychological profession, personal ethics helps in resolving ethical dilemmas. It is very important that that psychological professionals know how to handle these dilemmas since they cannot run away from them. In their physical lives, they must one day face the dilemmas. It is therefore important that the psychologists are aware of the APA Code of Ethics (APA, 2002). With the steps highlighted by Pope and Vasquez (2006), the psychologists must surely be able to make ethical decisions in any scenario.
It is important that individuals make sound moral judgments and this is what personal ethics is all about. The solution to ethical dilemmas is not only achieved by complying with the rules and standards.
As stated above, personal ethics helps in making sound moral judgments. Any individual with poor personal ethics is less able to choose between conflicting rules of right and wrong (EAI, 2006). The application of psychological principles heavily depends on the personal ethics in such issues as personal, spiritual, social, and organizational.
For an individual to be an ethical person, he/she must be able to understand his/her own personal ethical perspective. This also improves our understanding of other’s ethics. Any failures to know, understand, and tolerate our own beliefs -- whether personal, social, organizational, or spiritual – makes it possible for one not to have the same values toward others. This hinders the just application of psychological principles.
Good personal ethics demands that we value virtue and character rather than acting according to organizational rules. Most organizations are objective-oriented and can lead to a beach of individual’s morality. However, one should uphold his/her morality at all costs. According to EAI (2006), such individuals get frustrated at people or organizations who do not exhibit the same character. If we can know our ethical perspective; then, we can surely solve the ethical dilemmas between right and wrong (EAI, 2006).
Studying psychology as a degree course equips the individuals with the knowledge of solving societal behavioral problems. It enables the learners to critically understand the norms behind healthy living and how to make it part and parcel of their living. Thus, selecting psychology as a degree choice presents the individual with a good behavior and hence able to lead a positive life that has no negative impact on the society. It bars learners from becoming society’s misfit. Besides, it helps learners understand core behaviors of both human and animals, thus able to solve their problems. This ensures promotion of healthy human development.
Secondly, having psychology as a degree choice makes an individual have better position of joining diverse avenues of employment presented by the course. For instance, an individual may decide to major in solving clinical problems, educational, engineering, and forensic and as well act in the capacity of a counselor. It thus presents learners with a diverse list of choices that best suit their career dreams.
In addition to a wider range of majoring fields and availability of employment avenues, the doctoral graduates with psychology are better placed in the job market. They are paid the highest salaries and can easily secure few available employment opportunities. On the other hand, the master’s graduates have a rising recognition of their roles in the community. There are more jobs for persons with master's degrees in psychology.
Choosing psychology as a degree course also equips the learners with the opportunity to study and contribute to the work environment. It impacts on the individual the understanding of the general people behavior at the work place. For example, individuals having psychology as their degree choice has an in depth knowledge of workers’ satisfaction, motivation levels and is as well able to critically scrutinize workers’ profiles. Besides, additional insight gained from psychological courses helps graduates of different levels, whether undertaking parental duties, clinical, educators or are job managers be professionals in other fields as well.
Undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in psychology are entitled for financial. This is another advantage of having psychology as a degree choice since it presents the students with financial aid via scholarships, grants, work study or as research assistants.
References
American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct 2002. Retrieved at http://www.apa.org/ethics
Koocher, G. P. (2007). Twenty-first century ethical challenges for psychology. American Psychologist, 62(5), 375.
Pettifor, J. L., & Sawchuk, T. R. (2006). Psychologists' perceptions of ethically troubling incidents across international borders. International Journal of Psychology, 41(3), 216-225.
Pope, K.S., & Vasquez, M.J.T. (2007). Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practical Guide. 3rd Ed. Retrieved at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/eReader.aspx
The Williams Institute. (2006). Ethics Awareness Inventory, 5th Ed. Retrieved at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/Vendors/TWI/EAI/
