Prompt #2

In the big field of psychology, it is a must that the field maintains a valuable image and reputation for those working in it. Being a professional in one of the many jobs would mean that you hold a large amount of power and responsibility that comes with it. In order to simplify and enforce beliefs, values, and ideas with everyone involved, professionals in the study have came up with a code of ethical principles for the field of psychologists.

Photo: Barrett Values Centre 

Compared to my personal ethics, they are more concrete and dispersed but cover the same topics. Reading the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct", they express the strive of putting their own personal beliefs aside and establishing an awareness of other people, and the possible effects that they themselves can do onto others. Out of any fields ethical principles I've seen, this one represents themselves as the most understanding and charitable, as they almost have to work seriously with other people, the risk of putting those in harm is too easy to do. One principle from the website that stuck out to me was the promotion of accuracy and truth in science, teaching, and psychology. Professionals recognize the misrepresentation of their field so much that it has become a principle of promotion in their codes, so how do others perceive psychologists?

In terms of the general public, people do believe that psychologists follow these ethics. They are perceived as high-value workers because they are, they work with people's troubles and ultimately observe their thoughts and actions, and seek for a way to "fix" or "build" themselves. The representation in media also helps out with this as it isn't always shown as inaccurate, just satirical. The media promotes the importance and benefits of psychologists as articles and news give the evidential science behind it.

Photo: Vecteezy

The representation psychologists make of themselves nearly reflects the code of ethics they follow in their professional field. They believe in respecting the rights of an individuals privacy, confidentiality, and differences. They believe in taking precautions to ensure that their own personal biases don't limit their experience or lead to unjust practices. And most of it is accurately represented in media, not even touching all the principles they have to follow. As other fields have a bad perception, psychologists persist in making sure that their field is not, and the ethics they follow reflect their good perception as they carry a concrete principle of ethics.

by Lucas W.