Introduction
Not always, the law sufficiently regulates what is right and what is wrong (Chadwick, 1998). To guide the decision-makers on the most socially desirable forms of conduct the academic community has developed various ethical outlooks (Frey & Wellman, 2003). The ethical science have three primary dimensions – meta-ethics, which describe the supra foundations of ethical thinking and provide conceptual understanding of the right and the wrong (LaFollette, 2002). The second area is normative ethics, which theoretically explains, which forms of ethical judgements exist and how do they diverge from each other. The last field is applied ethics, which amplifies practical peculiarities of ethics application in a particular field of social life (Kleinig, 2008). All they have many ramifications and approaches to interpretation.
This work focuses on analyzing the third dimension of my personal academic and professional orientation. As a future criminal justice professional, I should be especially concerned about abiding by the ethical judgments and acting. It is notable to emphasize that ethics is closely intertwined with the commandments of the law. To illustrate, state code of conducts of the USA attorneys is a bylaw. Violating its provisions results in disbarment, different disciplinary penalties and is strongly socially blameworthy, not to mention that the most egregious ethical misdeeds lead to criminal liability.
Thus, the purpose of this research is to analyze my personal ethical learning style, to explain how each ethical style relates to decision making in a group, and how I will work with professional with different ethical styles.
My Ethical Style – Results-Oriented Criminal Justice Practitioner
After I have completed the test, I realized that I am driven by consequentialist and utilitarian approaches to ethics, i.e. my academic and professional ethical style fits the category of ‘results’. In other words, a clear tendency to base my ethical perspective on the outcomes or consequences of my actions is observable. I am firmly convinced that that all forms of my professional and academic endeavors should be directed towards achieving the greatest possible good for the greatest number of people, involved in the current academic and future criminal justice professional processes.
Moreover, for me, as a future professional, results are often more important than the process. I tend to disregard the importance of discussing the principles, theoretical foundations, opinion etc. What is important is that a particular participant of a criminal process benefits from the outcomes of the proceedings. In learning dimensions, it is therefore not important how we study, but what scope of knowledge and practical skills we eventually imbibe.
In the meantime, it is conceivable for me that this form of ethical outlook is associated with several notable frustrations, which may potentially lead to some difficulties in my future professional life. Among the most significant are the following:
In some academic or professional scenarios, I will be more likely on focusing on the immediate scope of the case, thus failing to make an adequate measurement of the far-reaching implications of my decision. It may create conflicts with my colleagues, who adhere to other styles of ethics.
The majority of people have competing views in this regard, considering that obligation-focused ethical style is more justified. This situation may result in problems with my social adaptation in the professional community, and often leads to emotional distresses and professional frustration.
In some cases, it will be necessary to decide between what is good for the entire society and what is good for a particular person. Such dilemmas are very difficult to resolve, and the final decision is always emotionally difficult for the decision-maker (Chadwick, 1998).
In general, the research shows that a result-oriented approach to analyzing ethical problems is one of the most popular among the criminal justice professionals nowadays (Cohen & Wellman, 2005). Provided that a decision-maker takes into consideration its potential ‘frustrations’ and develops appropriate and effective strategies for their mitigation, the use of this style can make its bearer and efficient and productive member of the criminal justice caste.
Dealing with the followers of other ethical styles
A result-focused person is expected to deal with the colleagues and other stakeholders, who are oriented to character, obligation and equity-based ethical frameworks. In choosing communication style, a results-focused professional should take into account the following peculiarities of these working models:
Character-focused Professionals
This professional represents the smallest minority in the cohort of criminal justice practitioners (LaFollette, 2002). They tend to base their ethical outlooks on what the good situation is, rather than how to act under particular circumstances. Their main motive of working in the field of criminal justice is to make all people achieve moral and spiritual excellence in thinking and judgements. Their key criterion is assessing other people are integrity and uprightness, believing that benevolence, justice and honor are the key virtues, that will help to build a perfect society.
In dealing with this category of people, result-oriented practitioners should always take into consideration that their judgments and reasoning are idealistic, and they tend to hyperbolize individual traits of people (Kleinig, 2008). Therefore, it is vitally important to give neutral and balanced interpretation to their messages, knowing that quite often they are not realistic.
Obligation-focused Professionals
This category of people strongly believes that an ethically acting individual should do what is prescribed under some written or implied obligations. The forms of obligations take many different forms, ranging from the written commandments of the law to the local customs of a particular geographic region. A person, who follows this form of ethical judgment, looks on the intent of a decision maker, rather than on the consequences entailed by his actions. In other words, these people believe that the end never justifies the means (Frey & Wellman, 2003).
Dealing with the adherents of deontological approach to ethics is often especially difficult. These people diligently follow the letter of the law, and never tolerate a slightest deviation thereof. However, the law is not always fair, and even the judges perceive this dogmatic truth, sometimes making illegitimate, but fair and never questionable judgments. To be in harmony with the deontologists, result-focused people should always demonstrate that the process is no less important for them than the ultimate outcomes (Cohen & Wellman, 2003).
Equity-focused Professionals
The criminal justice practitioners, who are driven by the ideas of equity, believe that universal knowledge is highly instable, as well as the human judgement is not permanent (LaFollette, 2002). The adherents of this approach to ethics also argue that number of the truly qualifying experts in the field of applied ethics is extremely scarce, because the ethics are dynamically developing. Moreover, according to their opinion, education cannot provide complete and comprehensive answers in this field, as well as there are no absolute standards of right and wrong (Kleinig, 2008).
Although the percentage of the professionals with this mindset is not large, dealing with them and choosing the most appropriate communication style is the most difficult. They tend to make their decision about particular situation in each case individually, not following a particular algorithm. In some cases, they may be result-focused, while in other scenarios they may concentrate on the process and its impacts only. Therefore, any dealings with the equity-focused professionals should be preceded by a comprehensive and thorough analysis of their personality analysis.
References
Chadwick, R. (1998). Encyclopedia of applied ethics. San Diego: Academic Press.
Cohen, A. & Wellman, C. (2005). Contemporary debates in applied ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
Frey, R. & Wellman, C. (2003). A companion to applied ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
Kleinig, J. (2008). Ethics and criminal justice: an introduction. Oxford, Oxford University Press, available at http://ir.nmu.org.ua/bitstream/handle/123456789/124119/dfd125cef63ee0514cf434048d007620.pdf?sequence=1
LaFollette, H. (2002). Ethics in practice : an anthology. Malden, Mass. Oxford: Blackwell.
