I understand that ethics is all about the ability to choose that which is right and disregard the wrong thing. Personally, I apply specific approaches in order to select what is right and leave the wrong thing. Three major approaches are applicable when it comes to choosing the right and wrong actions. The first approach I apply is utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is an approach to ethics that looks at the consequences of an action. Something is only right when its consequences make many people happy. Therefore, in the utilitarianism approach, one does not consider his or her plight, but the benefit of an action to others (American Psychological Association, 2007). I also apply the teleological approach, which is about looking at the end of an action, regardless of the process used. Therefore, a good end can justify the means. I apply this approach to ensure that I choose actions, which do not hurt others. To me, a wrong action is one where its outcome hurts more people than those who find it beneficial. On the other hand, a right action is one whose benefits are enjoyed by more people than those find it hurting.
It must be understood that I do not just apply the utilitarianism approach alone to determining right and wrong actions, but also do use the deontological framework. These two approaches are used simultaneously. It, therefore, implies that an action that I choose as right must satisfy both the deontological and utilitarian considerations. I do not choose an action as right when it only satisfies one framework, but does not pass the test of the other approach. The deontological approach is about looking at the processes of actions. The means of reaching at a given outcome must be analyzed and found to be right. Deontology also stresses the need to respect others. Therefore, I do always the respect for others while choosing right and wrong actions. I ensure that the means of achieving desired outcome are ethically right. It, thus, implies that the actions I choose as right do have results that benefit many people and the means of achieving these outcomes are also good. These are approaches I apply both professionally and personally.
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The examples of ethical behaviors include respecting everybody around me, helping others generously, speaking the truth always and exercising high level of integrity while at the job place. It is also important to note that my cultural heritage has significantly helped me to shape my values in life. My cultural heritage has got a lot of teachings about things considered right and wrong. My values of kindness, honor, respect for others, honesty and hard-work in everything I do are an outcome of the influence from my cultural heritage. My culture does not condone laziness in the community. Adult people who are lazy are always admonished and regarded as disgraces to the society. Furthermore, my community’s cultural heritage does not accept people who do not respect their elders and leaders. I have learnt the values of respect for others from the cultural teachings given to m by my parents. It is also significant to note that people who are kind and honest are normally celebrated in my culture. The doors of abundant opportunities are normally opened before them. Such people are blessed by my people since it is good and exemplary gesture. I have learnt to emulate these celebrated values and practice them always. I know that it is the way my cultural heritage has influenced the values I hold today.
On the nature of the four ethical examples, they are the right actions that form good and moral practices by a person. I believe that it is good to be generous to others by giving them any help, which is within my ability. I help children who are meek and destitute to find food and school education. Moreover, I trust that integrity on the job is a key ingredient of good and moral qualities of a productive employee. I act with integrity by being transparent, accountable and exercising fidelity to my call of duty. Finally, I strongly trust that truthfulness is the key to living a moral and admirable professional as well personal life. I, therefore, like speaking the truth so that it sets me free. I am not used to lying because I consider it wrong and unethical.
Professional/Ethical Hero
My professional and ethical hero is Barrack Obama, former President of the United States of America. Obama is the individual who has greatly impressed me and continues to act as my role model because of his ethical and professional presence. Obama’s ethical and professional presence is characterized by sensitivity, keeping appropriate boundaries, respect for privacy, commitment to ethics and the courage to always act morally. It is quite interesting that as a politician, Obama has managed to rally his supporters into being ethical people. Therefore, he is a man who has played a quite significant role in terms of mentoring ethical and professional behavior among people.
I am mostly impressed by the fact that Obama is an honest person and this demeanor cuts out clearly even in his professional life as President of the United States. Obama always stayed on the course of honesty and spoke the truth even it meant facing hostile reactions. Obama never fell for the tempting need to lie in order to gain political support. He, interestingly and admirably, defied the norm in politics of speaking what people want to hear even if it means lying to them. Instead, Obama thrived on the platform of truth and honesty, regardless of its price. Happily, his strong morality and ethical presence won him much more support than what he lost in this course. I always admire his steadfast and unwavering belief in the rule of law and support for justice. Obama has been vocal in defense of fundamental human rights. He gave a lot of Executive Orders while President to ensure people lived a just life. It is important to mention that Obama was even on the defense of the gay and lesbian people in the United States regarding their rights to just living and enjoying life in the manner they find pleasurable.
People in the helping profession can learn and be touched by the generosity of Obama. He has a big heart and this feature of his ethical nature stands out clearly when he brought up the Obamacare law. It was a rather philanthropic law meant to help needy citizens to access healthcare in the country. Furthermore, the level of lenience shown by Obama to the Muslim immigrants is admirable and touching. Under his regime, he treated the immigrants with warm hands and ensured they were treated fairly in the country.
Obama’s fidelity to his family and love for his wife has remained outstanding. He has presented the picture of a family man who loves caring for his children and wife. It has been a huge moral lesson to many people who used to disregard the institution of marriage.
Obama mentors me in many ways. I try to emulate his gentle character and level of generosity. My belief in justice for all human beings is modeled on the ethical and professional beliefs and actions of Obama. Moreover, my practice of integrity while at the job place is highly influenced by Obama. In essence, my whole value system is modeled on the ethical and professional life of Barrack Obama. I now strongly believe that people have the right to live just lives as long as they obey the laws of the land.
Ethical decision-making style
My implicit ethical decision-making style is informed by various models and values learned from my cultural heritage, education and parents. Three models are of great essence when it comes to making ethical decisions. These models include teleology, deontology and utilitarianism. These are the major models, which inform all the decisions I make both professionally and personally. Utilitarianism model influences the decisions I make because I have to show respect for others. The decisions I make must be of benefit to many people in the organization or the community. I do not make decisions, which may turn out to hurt a lot of people. In this regard, I ensure that I do consultations with all the interested parties. I consult for views of those who may be directly and indirectly affected by the planned decision before it i8s made. Their views are considered and they influence the ultimate decision made. This approach ensures that the decisions I make both professionally and personally do not hurt many people. At home, I consult family members before making a decision. I ensure that I get their views and recommendations, which are incorporated in the final decision made.
Secondly, I consider the teleological model. In accordance with this model, I ensure that I analyze the possible outcomes of a decision to be made. The outcomes must be good for such a decision to be made. Decisions, which lead to adverse outcomes, are rejected. Furthermore, I consider the deontological approach, which focuses on the means to an end. The processes involved in the decision to make must be good for it to be considered. Therefore, in my case, both the means and the end must be good for the decision to be made.
Vitally, the lessons learned in this course do influence my decisions. I have learnt various tips of making right choices in life. These tips include the models mentioned above. Moreover, the lesson has enlightened me on the importance of being ethical professionally and personally. Therefore, this lesson has also encouraged me to stick to the ethical decisions in life.
The cultural heritage of my community has a huge influence on the values I apply in making ethical decisions. While deciding on important matters, I always consider what my culture regards as acceptable and that it rejects. The values of respect for others, honesty and kindness learned from my culture as taught by parents do have a major stake in terms of influencing ethical decision-making style. Everything I do is in tandem with the moral teachings of my parents and the beliefs of my culture.
It is also significant to note that I always do consider the Biblical teachings in making ethical decisions. The Bible has got a lot of teachings on the right and wrong decisions in one’s life (Corey, 2015). The Bible gives the moral teachings to human beings, which have to be followed. A lot of the teachings can be applied at home while making personal decisions at the job place when making professional decisions. The values gained from reading the Bible have also become part of my implicit decision-making style. These approaches form the style that reflects my early and ongoing experiences with the moral values as well as issues impacted and shaped by parents, relatives, peers, and valued adults in my life, such as a teacher.
Professional and ethical development
Truly, ethical development is a career-long process (American Psychological Association, n.d.). I intend to develop ethically and professionally. The first area in which I need to secure development is the choice of right and wrong actions. Secondly, I need to develop my approach to ethical decision-making. It has proved to be quite challenging when it comes to classifying decisions as right and wrong. The basis on which the classification takes place may influence erroneous consideration of factually good actions as bad. I need to develop a good standard that will enable me to avoid biasness while choosing right and wrong actions or behaviors. Furthermore, I have to overcome personal interests while choosing the right and wrong actions or behavior. Personal interests sometimes do overcome the need for considering the characterization of an action as bad or wrong. Depending on the personal interest I have, I am always tempted to classify an action as right when in real sense it is wrong. In other cases, I avoid doing an action regarding it as bad, when in real sense it is good.
When it comes to the style of making ethical and professional decisions, I have to develop a more effective approach to it. Applying all the three models described which include teleology, deontology and utilitarianism with a view of achieving perfectly ethical decisions ends up making virtually all choices to appear unethical. On the other hand, when one model is applied, it may pass a choice that is largely unethical. Therefore, there is need of developing a more effective style of making ethical decisions.
Some of the ways in which I can acquire the development include considering the advice of ethical experts. Getting more training on the right application of the ethical decision making models and following lessons learned from my ethical as well as professional heroes will also enable me gain the development needed.
References
American Psychological Association. (2007). APA Ethics Committee rules and procedures. Retrieved from www.apa.org/ethics/code/committee.aspx.
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct: Including 2010 amendments. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx.
Corey, G. (2015). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions with 2014 ACA Codes, 9 th Edition. [Argosy University]. Retrieved from https://digitalbookshelf.argosy.edu/#/books/9781305480971/.
