All too often, those in professional practice view standards laid down by their licensing boards and professional organizations as rules to be obeyed much like traffic laws. They know them, at least in principle, and generally follow them, hoping not to be caught on minor violations. They accept that the purpose is to catch the few among them who are reckless and dangerous. And they believe that, as rule-abiding practitioners, they are entitled to their license and the ensuing position of influence and professional/social status.
But there is much more to being an "ethical psychologist". It involves shifting one's perspective so as to understand how the public sees the profession and to grasp what it expects of the practitioner. It also involves making the effort to distinguish between knowledge, which has a firm foundation, and beliefs, which tend to be perpetuated because they're popular, well promoted and impervious to examination.
Taking off the self-protective blinders and considering the bigger issues can be a bit disturbing but it can also be a crucial step in the direction of becoming a wiser, more responsive and more socially responsible practitioner. (Intermediate-advanced level course).
This course is based in part on excerpts from Dr. Dineen's book, Manufacturing Victims. For information about the book and her other work, click here.
