"Roles of a Forensic Psychologist"

Core ethical principles for psychologists

 Principle:  Justice

 Justice is a core ethical principle, and it means that psychologists should promote fairness and justice regardless of the perceived characteristics such as race, color, gender, gender identity, disability and more (Davis et al, 2008). For psychologists to promote justice, they should recognize and accept diversity and take into the account the different characteristics. By so doing, they will provide effective services and create a safe environment. 

 The principle of justice would come into play in a community psychology or a situation where a psychologist is needed to research problems, promote health and well-being and make improvements.  In a community psychologist, the psychologists should adhere to the core values such as social justice, empowerment and promoting diversity (Davis et al, 2008). In a community psychology, a psychologist may play the role of addressing issues such as poverty. In this case, the psychologist plays a significant role in researching the societal causes of poverty, the vulnerable group, its effect on the well-being and develop and implement effective interventions (Davis et al, 2008). In addressing poverty, he may provide the community with resources such as housing, food, education, employment and more to the affected population. The psychologists should ensure a distributive fairness or rather he should provide equal resources to the affected regardless of ageism, mental problems, race, education level and more (Davis et al, 2008).

 

 In the community psychology or in a situation where a psychologist is needed to make improvements, he or she may defend the principle by understanding diversity, accepting and respecting the people's diverse conditions. In other words, the psychologist may promote social justice by having a sense of community, develop local organizations for the purpose of supporting equality and embrace diversity (Davis et al, 2008). By so doing, the psychologist will be in a position to promote quality, equal opportunity, prevent violence, liberate the oppressed peoples and respect all cultures.

Psychologists conduct various roles and in carrying out their duties, they encounter ethical dilemmas or a situation in which their roles conflict with each other. For example, it is the role of the psychologist to provide treatment or psychological interventions. In providing treatment, psychologists should provide professional services and maintain confidentiality (Pirelli, Beattey & Zapf, 2017).  On the other hand, a psychologist should be accountable for his actions.  In this case, he may face ethical dilemmas in deciding whether to disclose information concerning the patient's condition or maintaining privacy. In this case, the psychologist should consider the situation of the client and focus on maximizing benefit and minimize harm. It is good to disclose the information in order to help the client and save his or her life.  Another situation is when a psychologist is supposed to obtain an informed consent before taking on activities.  However, the client may fail to give the consent due to the fear of the unknown.  In such cases, the psychologist may initiate clinical intervention without an informed consent to prevent the client from suffering from psychological issues (Pirelli, Beattey & Zapf, 2017).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

 

Davis, S. F., Buskist, W., Rasmussen, E. B., & Lawyer, S. R. (2008). 21st century psychology: A reference

handbook. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.

 

Pirelli, G., Beattey, R. A., & Zapf, P. A. (2017). The ethical practice of forensic psychology: A casebook.