Respect for persons
Also known as autonomy, this principle describes every individual’s right to freedom and independence in making their own decisions.
This principle is vital in psychology as it enforces two moral convictions. First, People who are believed to have diminished autonomy have an entitlement to protection. Some individuals however may need extensive protection depending on the risk of harm and how beneficial this cause will be. Secondly, it ensures that there is a necessity to acknowledge autonomy. This means that Individuals with autonomy will not be disrupted from their daily activities and their opinions and choices will be appreciated. This principle demands that people enter into the research voluntarily and with adequate information.
Career: Clinical Psychologist
Use: This concept ensures that a client’s decision regarding their health is respected even if it is against the practitioner’s morals.
The judgment that any individual lacks autonomy should undergo reevaluation. However, some circumstances may force autonomy to be restricted depending on the wellbeing of the community. For example, the government ensured that those who have the Coronavirus are left anonymous to the community, are kept in isolation and are under prescribed medication
Population: individuals with communicable diseases, HIV aids patients
Beneficence.
People are shown respect by protecting them from harm, respecting their opinions, and securing their mental wellbeing. This, therefore, focuses mainly on doing good for your client.
Interest:
The principle recognizes that conflicts can occur between a psychologist and his client. The obligation to provide care and the need to prevent negative psychosocial consequences are never in balance.
Career: Counselling Psychologist
Use: Psychologists help clients with a range of difficult life issues and/or mental health conditions by establishing a working relationship with the client based on trust and respect. They can also implement special treatments that will help the client understand their feelings and behaviors and even recommended immunization when necessary.
Population: children, adults, families, couples, and groups.
Justice.
This majorly focuses on fairness. An injustice can occur when an individual who is entitled to some benefits is denied without any logical reason or when some burden is imposed unduly.
This concept implements two elements of Justice namely Social and Distributive Justice.
Social Justice gives every individual the right to access amenities that are beneficial to their health while Distributive Justice ensures that individuals are treated equally regardless of their ethnic background.
Career: Occupational Psychology
Use: This principle enables practitioners to empower individuals within their communities to exercise their rights. This principle requires fairness, confidentiality, truthfulness, and ethics
Population: Corporate entities, marginalized communities
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/institutional-review-board/basic-ethical-principles
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp016
https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=225&printable=1