Value of the Eight-Step Model

The eight-step ethical decision-making model is a valuable model because it provides a method for handling ethical issues and conflicts in an organized manner. The eight-step ethical decision-making model is specifically designed to minimize harm, receive input from other professionals, understand the risks involved in the decision, and the implementation of the decision. This design makes the model valuable to any professional in any field, who needs to reach a decision on how to handle an ethical issue.

Rational Model

The rational model is another supported model, which according to Lumen (n.d.), involves the following five steps:

1. Formulate a goal

2. Identify the criteria for making the decision

3. Identify alternatives

4. Perform an analysis

5. Make a final decision

The rational model is a considered a supported model since it requires that the problem solver who utilizes the model do so only within the bound of their own competencies which is in accordance with the APA Code of Ethics standard of competence (American Psychological Association, 2019). The rational model focuses more on general problem solving instead of being restricted to solving ethical issues, yet it can also utilized for problem solving involving ethical issues. This model of decision-making is based on the intent to maximize benefits while minimizing any costs (Lumen, n.d.). The minimizing of costs is meant not only in the monetary sense, but also in the sense of minimizing any harm being done. Which is in accordance with the APA Code of Ethics standard of human relations that requires “psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, and others with whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable” (American Psychological Association, 2019).

Group decision making

Group decision making is another decision making model, yet it is an unsupported model because without proper safeguards it can lead to groupthink. According to Irving Janis (1972), groupthink occurs when a group makes faulty decisions due to group pressures, which can cause deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment to occur within the group. This type of thinking can result in ethical lapses as well as ethical dilemmas. The very nature of groupthink would make it an unsupported strategy for resolving ethical conflicts. It is considered such because of the many symptoms of groupthink, which include “illusion of invulnerability, collective rationalization, belief in inherent morality, stereotyped views of out-groups, direct pressure on dissenters, self-censorship, illusion of unanimity, and self-appointed mind guards” (Groupthink, n.d.).   

References

American Psychological Association, (2019). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of

conduct. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/

Bennett-Woods, B. (n.d.) Models for ethical decision-making. Retrieved from

https://rhchp.regis.edu/HCE/HCE430/modelsforethicaldecisionmaking07/data/downloads/ml_decisionmodels07.pdf

Groupthink. (n.d.) Retrieved from

https://web.archive.org/web/20170721223437/http://www.psysr.org/about/pubs_resources/groupthinkpresentation.ppt.pdf

Janis, I. (1972). Victims of Groupthink: A psychological study of foreign-policy decisions and

fiascoes. Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin

Johnson, P. M. (2001). Effects of groupthink on tactical decision-making. School of Advanced

Military Studies. Fort Leavenworth, KS, USA Command and General Staff College: 47pp

Koocher, G. P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2016). Ethics in psychology and the mental health

professions: Standards and cases (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Lumen. (n.d.). Rational and nonrational decision making. Retrieved from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-management/chapter/rational-and-nonrational-decision-making/

Purtilo, R. B. (1999). Ethical dimensions in the health professions. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.