1. Ethical issues in psychology
Focus on the important questions:
Why are there so many ethical issues in psychology?
Why are ethics important?
What are the issues?
What is and isn’t acceptable?
How should we make ethical judgments?

2. Why are there so many ethical issues in psychology?
The study of behaviour involves living creatures whose right to be treated with respect and care can easily be infringed
The outcomes of psychological research sometimes reveals aspects of human nature which are unpleasant or socially sensitive
Outcomes, particularly of social influence research could be used by political organisations to exert social control or incite prejudice

3. Why are ethics important?
A number of reasons including:
Moral obligation to society
Professional values (‘amelioration of the human condition’)
Image of the discipline and profession
Practical reasons e.g. getting participants

4. What are the issues?
Research practices that threaten (directly or indirectly) the well-being of the participants e.g.:
Deception
Informed consent (lack of)
Protection from psychological harm

5. Ethical perspectives Deontological Teleological www.psychlotron.org.uk
The correctness of an action lies in itself, not its consequences
E.g. lying is always wrong, even if it produces a good outcome
Teleological
The correctness of an action is determined by its intended consequences
E.g. lying is good if it is done for the ‘right’ reasons (like protecting a person from harm)

6. Ethical Perspectives Utilitarian
Utilitarian
A form of teleological ethics
The moral correctness of an action is determined by its consequences for society as a whole
“The greatest good for the greatest number”
Psychological researchers usually take a utilitarian view, but with certain absolute prohibitions

7. Making ethical decisions
Where ethical problems arise, a cost-benefit analysis is often applied, where:
Costs are the (potentially) negative consequences of the research – usually for the Pps involved
Benefits are the (potentially) positive consequences of the research for the Pps or (more usually) for society

8. Cost-benefit analysis
Provides a framework for making ethical decisions
Involves subjective judgements about costs and benefits
Consequences cannot always be anticipated e.g. Zimbardo, Milgram