The general principles serve as ideals which inspire psychologists when undertaking their professional task. In general, these principles represent ethical goals that anyone should adhere to as far as ethics is concerned. Mostly the general principles aim to improve the professional behavior with respect to whom the services are being given to, such as working on research subjects and individuals who seek psychological services.
Beneficence refers to the ability of a psychologist to benefit others. According to this principle, psychologists work hard to benefit those who take part in their works. In this case, psychologists seek to promote the welfare and the rights of those whom they relate with professionally and any other party which may be affected while in the psychologists working environment (Harriss Alasdair MacSween, and Greg Atkinson.pg 789). On the other hand, nonmaleficence call for the person to cause no harm. In case of a conflict arises, the principle illustrates the procedure on how the conflict can be resolved in a responsible manner through minimization of harm.
This principle enables the psychologists to use their scientific and professional knowledge to influence the lives of the other people positively in every aspect of life. Example of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence A good example of the beneficence principle includes encouraging a person to quit smoking in order to benefit his health in the long run. Since psychologists can be aware of the negative effects which are brought about by smoking, he can utilize this knowledge to advise a person about the dangers of this act and the procedure to follow to realize a positive outcome. In an agency, this principle can be applied through giving the smoker adequate knowledge in order to move him to a higher ground of ethical standard.
On the other hand, an example of nonmaleficence includes stopping a certain medication that the professional has proved to be harmful to the public. Through this principle, the benefits go directly to the people through the utilization of psychologists’ knowledge. Ethical standards Ethical standards are principles that their main concern is to promote various values such as trust, fairness, and kindness. Although they are not a consistent set of values.
Each organization can freely develop standards that it feels bear a certain meaning as far as their organization is concerned (Lefkowitz, Joel 90). Due to their characteristic of enforceability, they are frequently defined and also open to various interpretations. Misuse of psychologists work. Good conduct in a place of work constitutes to the highest degree of ethical standards (Kasser, Tim 789). To illustrate an example, in this case, we take an example of a professional doctor who operates a certain private healthcare facility. If a patient comes to visit and after several meetings, the patient declares her romantic feelings to the doctor, and he takes advantage of being intimate with the lady whom he heartbreaks later, he will definitely have violated the rules of conduct since the professional had more power between the two parties.
To utilize this principle in ethics, the doctor should protect the welfare of the patient since he bears more knowledge about the patient.
