Professional Ethics
Theories, Models, Practices, and
Standards
Sarah Woodside and Bill Heinrich
CRE/RM/CPC Training 2008
Agenda
• Purpose/Introduction (5 min)
• Ethical Rank Order Exercise as
individuals, small groups and large
group (40 min)
• Examples of Theories, Models, and
Standards (15 min)
Goals and Intentions
Participants will…
• Practice and discuss ethical decision
making
• Explore the process of decision making
• Recognize interactions of multiple
personal and professional values in
making decisions
Ethics Rank Order Exercise
• Do on own first (10 min)
• Come to consensus with small group of 5
people (15 min)
• Large Group Discussion (15 min)
• Outside Influences/Own Experience?
• Rules/Laws/Regulations?
• You decide.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Statement of Ethical Values
Members of the University of California community are committed to the highest ethical
standards in furtherance of our mission of teaching, research and public service. We
recognize that we hold the University in trust for the people of the State of California. Our
policies, procedures, and standards provide guidance for application of the ethical values
stated below in our daily life and work as members of this community.
We are committed to:
• Integrity. We will conduct ourselves with integrity in our
dealings with and on behalf of the University.
• Excellence. We will conscientiously strive for excellence in our
work.
• Accountability. We will be accountable as individuals and as
members of this community for our ethical conduct and for
compliance with applicable laws and University policies and
directives.
• Respect. We will respect the rights and dignity of others.
UC Standards
Fair Dealing
Individual Responsibility and Accountability
Respect for Others
Compliance with Applicable Laws and
Regulations
• Compliance with Applicable University Policies,
Procedures and other forms of guidance
• Conflicts of Interest or Commitment
•
•
•
•
UC Standards Continued…
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ethical Conduct of Research
Records: Confidentiality/ Privacy and Access
Internal Controls
Use of University Resources
Financial Reporting
Reporting Violations and Protection from
Retaliation
UCSC Principles of Community
The University of California, Santa Cruz is committed to promoting and protecting
an environment that values and supports every person in an atmosphere of
civility, honesty, cooperation, professionalism and fairness.
UCSC expects that every campus member will practice these Principles of
Community.
We strive to be:
* Diverse: We embrace diversity in all its forms and we strive for an
inclusive community that fosters an open, enlightened and productive
environment.
* Open: We believe free exchange of ideas requires mutual respect
and consideration for our differences.
* Purposeful: We are a participatory community united by shared
commitments to: service to society; preservation and advancement of
knowledge; and innovative teaching and learning.
UCSC Principles of Community
Continued…
* Caring: We promote mutual respect, trust and support to
foster bonds that strengthen the community.
* Just: We are committed to due process, respect for individual
dignity and equitable access to resources, recognition and
rewards.
* Disciplined: We seek to advance common goals through
reasonable and realistic practices, procedures and
expectations.
* Celebrative: We celebrate the heritage, achievements and
diversity of the community and the uniqueness and
contributions of our members.
We accept the responsibility to pursue these principles in an atmosphere of
personal and intellectual freedom, security, respect, civility and mutual
support.
Crown College Community Ethics
•
Crown College is a diverse community of students, faculty and staff dedicated
to the pursuit of knowledge in an atmosphere of open discussion and mutual
respect. In the embracing of this diversity, we find stimulation, freedom, and
strength. Freedom to express one’s opinions and beliefs is of the utmost
importance.
•
We respect friendship, honesty, community, individual freedom, individual
responsibility and academic integrity. Individual freedom in a community
requires respect for one another as well as for the beauty of the college and the
campus. Academic integrity fosters a positive learning environment and is
essential to the functioning of the university. Responsibility for personal
actions, regardless of circumstances, is required of every member of our
community.
Ethic of Care
Gilligan’s Theory of Moral Judgment
• Conflict between Self and Others
• Level One: Centered on Self: Transition is
Selfishness to Responsibility
• Level Two: Goodness as Self Sacrifice:
Transition is Goodness to Truth
• Level Three: Care as Universal Obligation:
Transition is Self and Others Independent
Ethic of Justice
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Growth
1. Pre-Conventional Level
• Punishment and Obedience Orientation
• Instrumental-Relativist Orientation
2. Conventional Level
• Interpersonal Concordance Orientation
• Law and Order Orientation
3. Post-Conventional Level
• Social Contract, Legalistic Orientation
• Universal-Ethical-Principle Orientation
(Smith, 1978)
Five Ethical Principles
Respect Autonomy
It is assumed that individuals have the right to decide how they live their lives, as long as their actions
do not interfere with the welfare of others. One, therefore, has the right to act as a free agent,
and has freedom of thought and choice.
Do No Harm
The obligation to avoid inflicting either physical or psychological harm on others may be a primary
ethical principle.
Benefit Others
There is an obligation to improve and enhance the welfare of others, even where such enhancements
may inconvenience or limit the freedom of the person offering the assistance.
Be Just
To be just in dealing with others assumes equal treatment of all, to afford each individual his or her due
portion, and in general, to observe the golden rule.
Be Faithful
One should keep promises, tell the truth, be loyal, and maintain respect and civility in human discourse.
Only in so far as we sustain faithfulness can we expect to be seen as truly trustworthy.
Kitchener, K.S. (1985). Ethical principles and decisions in student affairs. In H.J. Canon and R.D. Brown
(Eds.). Applied ethics in student services (pps. 17-20). San Francisco: Jossey Bass, Inc.
Kitchener’s Ethical Principles
Karen Kitchener observes that ethical principles are
commonly in conflict with each other as we apply them
to real-life dilemmas. Consequently, there are no
absolutes. Further, no one principle is absolute, and
there are times when a higher standard of ethical
conduct requires the violation of one or more principles.
Nonetheless, Kitchener notes that violating any of these
principles -- whether because they are in conflict with
each other or because a “higher moral purpose” might be
served -- places a strong burden on the individual to
provide a rationale for rejecting the principle.
Ethics Check List
• Is it Legal?
Will I be violating any civil law or institutional policy?
• Is it balanced?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Does it promote win/win situations?
• How will it make me feel about myself?
Will I be proud?
Would I feel good if my hometown newspaper published my
decision?
Would I feel good if my family know about my choice?
Blanchard, Kenneth and Peale, Norman Vincent (1988). The Power of Ethical Management, page 20. New York:
William Morrow Co.
Bell, Book and Candle Test
1.
Listen for the bells warning you of an ethical
issue.
2. Check to see if there are any laws, regulations or
rules which restrict your choices.
3. How will your decision look in the light? Could a
reasonable fair-minded person conclude you acted
improperly?
(Josephson Institute, BOI 2008)
Integrity Model
1
SelfReflection
2
Evaluation
Priorities
Action
Integrity
Values
Beliefs
3
Decision
Making
4
Role
Modeling
REFLECTION
Beliefs
Values
Actions
Priorities
What messages
did you get
growing up
about yourself
or others?
Based on your
beliefs, what
standards or
principles do
you hold for
yourself?
What do you do
(how do you
behave) that
would
demonstrate
your
values?
List the people,
activities or
things
you spend your
time
(or money) on…
Who did those
messages come
from (individuals
or groups)?
I believe…
The Golden Rules
•
•
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Confucius: What you do not want done to yourself, do not do
unto others.
Aristotle: We should behave to other as we wish others to
behave to us.
Judaism: What you dislike for yourself, do not do to anyone.
Hinduism: Do nothing to thy neighbor which though wouldst not
have him do to thee thereafter.
Islam: No one of you is a believe unless he loves for his brother
what we loves for himself.
Buddhism: Hurt not others with that which pains thyself.
Christianity: Do unto other as you would have them do unto
you.
Social Justice: Do unto others as they would like to have done
unto them.
Jack’s Rule of Thumb
“We judge other people by their
actions and we judge ourselves by
our intent.”
--Jack Azzaretto, UCR, Ethics for UC Business Officers