Psychologists study living beings, both animals and humans. As a result, they must follow ethical standards. These standards are not simply rules for carrying out experiments in labs. This means that psychologists must protect individuals in their care and treat them with respect.

Responsibility is a complex concept in psychology.  It includes legal and professional responsibilities.  Psychologists advocate for improving society, and they intervene to address false beliefs and social stigma.  

Ethical Responsibility

Psychologists must adhere to ethical principles, as outlined in guidelines like the APA (American Psychological Association) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Some of the ethical responsibilities include:

• Avoiding harm: Researchers must minimize any physical or psychological harm to participants.
• Confidentiality: Researchers must ensure that participants' data is kept confidential and used only for the purposes outlined in the study.
• Informed consent: Researchers must provide participants with comprehensive information about the nature of the study, its purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits. Consent must be voluntary, and participants should have the opportunity to ask questions. Consent forms should be clear, and researchers must obtain explicit agreement before proceeding.
• Right to withdraw: Participants must be aware that they have the right to withdraw from the study at any point without any negative consequences.

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There are several concerns with the study of the Galvin family.  They include but are not limited to:

• The longer the study goes on, the more difficult it may be for them to withdraw from the study.
• There may be a sense of objectification of the family members; they may be seen as “an object to be studied” rather than attempting to understand their feelings and personal struggles.
• In reporting on the family, this could lead to stereotyping about people living with schizophrenia. Not all people living with the disorder are violent. This would need to be communicated.
• If interviews are carried out, any videos or recordings should be confidential.
• The psychologist should not seek financial gain from the study of the family.

Marginalized groups

Sieber and Stanley (1988) define socially sensitive research as “studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individual represented by the research.”

Socially sensitive research often involves marginalized or underrepresented groups. Psychologists need to be culturally competent. Cultural competence is understanding and effectively interacting with people from different cultures. Failing to recognize cultural differences can lead to harmful misunderstandings or biased interpretations of research findings.

Watch the following video.  How do the people in the video show a lack of cultural competence?

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There are several examples in the video.  They include but are not limited to:

• Stereotyping about race.
• Not allowing him to explain his situation. Assuming they know all about his culture/race.
• She compares him to “other men” she knows who have ended up in prison.
• The doctor assumes that an injury must be due to abuse until he meets the father.
• The social worker and teacher impose their language style on the child.

Research on sensitive issues can easily be influenced by researchers’ biases or societal prejudices, leading to biased outcomes that could reinforce harmful stereotypes.

Psychologists must engage in reflexivity—examining their own biases and preconceptions to ensure that these do not influence their work. They should also design their research to ensure that findings reflect a fair and balanced understanding of the issue.

Researchers should avoid treating these groups as "subjects" without engaging them in the research process or considering their needs.

Psychologists should involve community members in the research process, ensuring their voices are heard and the research aligns with their needs and interests. They also need to recognize the historical power imbalances that have led to trauma within marginalized communities. This can help build trust and ensure that the research has real-world relevance and positive outcomes.

Responsibility to clients

Responsibility is relevant not only for psychological research but also an important consideration when psychologists work with clients. This may be a person coming in for treatment or working with the public to reform health or work policies.

Psychologists must work within the boundaries of their competence. This means providing services only in areas where they have appropriate training, experience, and qualifications. This includes informing potential clients of one's areas of competence so that clients can make informed decisions.  A therapist should tell a client their therapy specialization as well as any types of clients that they do not feel confident treating - for example, people with drug addictions.

Other guidelines for psychologists include:

• Duty of care: Psychologists have a legal and moral responsibility to provide quality care to their clients. They must assess, diagnose, and treat clients using scientifically supported methods.
• Client autonomy: Psychologists must avoid imposing their personal values or influencing the client's decision-making inappropriately.
• Cultural sensitivity: Psychologists must be sensitive to their clients' cultural, social, and personal contexts and ensure that their services are inclusive and respectful.
• Promoting public welfare: Psychologists should contribute to the welfare of society by applying their expertise to address societal issues such as mental health awareness, education, and social justice.

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