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Introduction
Industrial psychologists face ethical dilemmas from time to time in the course of their practice. Some of ethical dilemmas faced by industrial psychologists include situations in which a supervisor requests to have a look at information collected from employees about job satisfaction. This poses an ethical dilemma since the industrial psychologist has the obligation to maintain a high level of confidentiality. In such cases, the industrial psychologists should apply either the utilitarian or the deontological viewpoint of ethics. This paper seeks to discuss which approach is best suited for managing ethical dilemmas faced by industrial psychologists.
Utilitarianism theory of normative ethics is defined as the theory that seeks to maximise happiness while reducing happiness through different actions. As such, through the utilitarian ethical theory, an action is judged to be morally accepted based on its outcomes. Therefore, any action that has a positive outcome should be morally accepted. For instance, torturing suspected gangsters in a bid to reveal crucial information that would save many people is deemed morally right. On the other hand, deontological theory of ethics asserts that an action is deemed morally accepted depending on its nature rather than its outcomes. Immanuel Kant acknowledges human rights through the deontological theory.
Industrial psychologists should manage ethical dilemmas through deontological view point. This is because psychologists at large have a duty to maintain maximum confidentiality. Additionally, they owe a duty of care to their clients. Deontological viewpoint ensures that industrial psychologists care about their clients. As such, they would adhere to the established rules and regulations. This will in turn enable them to mind the nature of their actions rather than their consequences as suggested by utilitarianism theory.
Conclusion
Industrial psychologists should manage ethical dilemmas through the deontological viewpoint. This is because through deontological viewpoint, they will mind the nature of their actions rather than the consequences of their actions.
References
Bredeson, D. (2011). Applied Business Ethics: A Skills-Based Approach (Illustrated ed.). Stamford: Cengage Learning.
Shrader-Frechette, K. S. (2009). Ethics of Scientific Research (Revised ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.
Weinstein, D. (2007). Utilitarianism and the New Liberalism (Illustrated ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
