Ethical and Multicultural Competence in Forensic Psychology - Essay Example

? Ethical and Multicultural Competence in Forensic Psychology [Assignment Number] [Section Number] Forensic psychology is used in criminal investigation to help law enforcement agencies and courts of law to ascertain the real facts in any disputed matter. This includes providing expertise, second opinions and psychotherapy for victims of crime and assesses the mental capabilities of juveniles and adult offenders. In movies and television serials, forensic psychologists are showed as profilers who help criminal investigators as they possess the capability to figure out every criminal’s next move and prevent the actual crime from being perpetuated before it happens. There are some major differences between practicing forensic psychology and clinical psychology. Multicultural issues faced by psychologists are mainly to do with religious beliefs. Language is also a barrier, but most people do understand minimum English, and communication does take place. Issues related to gender, religion, ethnicity should handled with understanding and compassion. Ethical and Multicultural Competence in Forensic Psychology Introduction Forensic psychology is used in criminal investigation to help law enforcement agencies and courts of law to ascertain real facts in any disputed matter. In my opinion, this discipline helps in custody disputes, insurance claims and lawsuits to substantiate or reject claims made by the parties involved in the dispute which must be settled by the court in accordance with available evidence. Forensic psychologists mostly work in family courts to determine instances of child abuse, rights of parental access in child custody cases and perform evaluations for the court to reach a fair settlement of the case. In this context, if I were to become a forensic psychologist, my work would include providing expertise, second opinions and psychotherapy for victims of crime and assess the mental capabilities of juveniles and adult offenders. In movies and television serials, forensic psychologists are often depicted as criminal profilers who possess the capability to figure out a criminal’s next move and prevent the actual crime from being perpetuated before it happens. In real life, forensic psychologists use science to help civil and criminal courts in making right judgments and passing a sentence or declaring an offender innocent of the crime based on scientific evidence unearthed during their investigations (Lidia & Mullaney, 1998). Ethical Issues Faced by Forensic Psychologists I find some major differences between practicing forensic psychology and clinical psychology, and it is important for me to understand these differences before opting for becoming a forensic psychologist so that ethical transgressions can be avoided. Ethical violations may occur for several reasons which might include working in a profession with dissimilar cultural norms. I think that ethical issues invariably crop up if the psychologists does not have specialized knowledge of the specific issue being handled, or does not maintain neutrality and supports a specific person or party in the dispute. As per my understanding, professional ethics may also be violated if the person does not have the requisite specialized training for the job and assumes that the attorney that the person is working with should provide the legal, ethical and professional information necessary to carry out his/her functions as forensic psychologists. Moreover, I regard another contentious issue can be the assumption that different jurisdictions are identical for purposes for the implementation of laws. Forensic psychologists must also understand and realize various aspects for evidence that would be compatible with their work and the legal system. Sometimes monetary reasons hamper their functions as they might feel that they must comply with the wishes or instructions of the attorney who is paying for their services. Sometimes ethical transgressions could be the failure to appreciate and recognize the exceptional matters concerning discretion and the disclosure of privileged communications that could cause conflict of interest for their clients. Entering into or cultivating dual relationships such as being the expert witness, also acting as the expert psychoanalyst in the dispute. Not maintaining the appropriate records or using proper documentation and neglecting to use the correct sources of information necessary for forensic evaluation (Cronin, 2011). Approaches to Ethical Reasoning and Decision Making in Forensic Psychology I regard the best approach to ethical reasoning and decision making is to follow the customary steps as envisaged universally. This specific style was specifically designed to enable forensic psychologists to settle ethical matters. Many of the ethical challenges faced by forensic psychologists were quite intricate, and the amount of information required for suitable remedial action was quite extensive. Therefore it was recommended that practitioners to foresee probable ethical conflicts and plan for an appropriate plan of action well in advance. This would envisage recognizing that there might be problems and the importance of circumstances leading to the problem. Being aware of the problem helps to identify and avail appropriate ethical and legal resources to solve the problem after taking into consideration individual attitude and principled standards. This helps in building up probable answers to the problem after considering the credible conclusion of various solutions. After studying various solutions, practitioners can chose the best solution and follow that course of action to obtain the required outcome (Bush, Conell, & Denney, 2005). I consider the work performed by forensic psychologists to be proper and moral, but sometimes they are asked to be part of professional activities that are not correct and go against the ethics of the practitioner. In such cases the alternatives available to practitioners might be confusing or complicated. However, I think it is important to consider that many forms of behaviors could be suitable with the number of options available. There is a difference between ethical, legal, moral and professional evaluations, and these coincidences should not be described to elucidate ethical issues or moral predicaments. Obviously, if a practitioner resorts to unacceptable ethical activities, he/she usually has to contend with harmful results. If I being a forensic psychologist view such activities in a colleague, it is necessary that I must take appropriate measures to correct the situation. Sometimes there are situations in which a forensic psychologist feels uncomfortable and uneasy. In such situations, the psychologist analyzes the reason for the negative feelings and concentrates on those essentials that have generated these feelings. An example would be that I, in the capacity of a forensic psychologist, am treating someone who has been in an accident. The situation could become uncomfortable for me if the patient’s lawyer asked me to give a detailed report describing the condition of the person under treatment, the amount of disability sustained and the connection between the accident and the trauma the patient suffered because of the accident. This might seem to be a simple request, but there might be underlying ethical issues that would have to be carefully thought out by me as to whether the report should be given or refused and reasons for both courses of action. I must determine the ethical issues in relation to such a request, and plan my responses to such a request being made or entertained (Bush, Conell, & Denney, 2005). Developing Ethical Competence To become a forensic psychologist and to develop ethical competence, the first step is to have the appropriate qualifications enabling you to train and qualify yourself as a practitioner. For the development of ethical competence, it is important for the psychologist to understand the nature and complexity of the profession and what is actually required of the practitioner. Thorough training is essential, because therapy is not an open-ended practice used to solve undetermined issues with random conclusions. The psychologists who shaped the moral principles and regulations of forensic psychology developed a code that would help and guide psychologists in their day to day practice. This code was formulated by requesting all prominent psychologists to contribute their views and personal experiences for solving ethical issues and the circumstances in which these decisions were implemented. For every feature of forensic psychology, a structure of laws and formal ethical standards are available which must be followed. It would also help to know what agencies, organization and other departments are responsible for imposing the ethical, legal and other principles that govern such matters (Manesse, Saito, & Rodolfa, 2003). For ethical development it would help to obtain all relevant information about the topic and about research already carried out. It also helps to be current with new research and findings by reading all available papers and literature that is published regularly. The APA also has its own websites where most information can be easily obtained. It also helps to work with an experienced psychologist and gain knowledge from his/her practical experience acquired over the course of their careers (American Psychological Association, 2013). Multicultural Issues Faced by Forensic Psychologists Forensic psychologist should follow all guideline stipulated by the APA in handling multicultural matters. One must come to terms with one’s pre-supposed assumptions as they correlate to ethnicity, culture, race, sexual characteristics, religion and gender. Practitioners should be willing to keep an open mind about other cultures and not impose their own culture because they think it is superior to other cultures. For effective counseling, it would really help the counselor and patient if the psychologist possessed knowledge about the cultural differences about the group or individual. For older migrants, who are too set in their own cultural ways, it helps if a person from their own cultures speaks to them, at least initially to make them feel at ease, and to tell them how the counselor has their best interests at heart. He will help them overcome their apprehensions and difficulties (Bartol & Bartol, 2009). Multicultural issues faced by psychologists are mainly to do with religious beliefs. Language is also a barrier, but most people do understand minimum English, and communication does take place. Issues related to gender, religion, ethnicity should handled with understanding and compassion, so that the patient opens up, speaks to the counselor and thereby makes the treatment much easier. Forensic psychology is full of ethical arguments and differences. Keeping the confidence of the patient by not disclosing privileged information, matters regarding treatment all generate ethical concerns (Suzuki & Ponterotto, 2008). The committee that regulates ethical practices and guiding principles for forensic psychologists has set down effective regulations so that professional conduct can be effectively monitored in correctional institutions. Even these guidelines have not completely diminished ethical problems, as sometimes they may not be easy to understand or follow (Powell & Bartholomew, 2003). Since correctional facilities are supervised by the department of correctional administration instead of the department of mental health might be a factor in these ethical issues not being controllable. When mental health professionals come across an ethical problem, they look for help to more experiences personnel, preferably the head of their departments. Correctional facilities usually feel that a person’s mental state of mind is not their concern and outside their areas of expertise, so they make no serious to resolve such issues. With so many regulations and practices, it sometimes becomes quite difficult to determine the correct mode for correctional practices. Reassessment and analysis of contemporary strategies seem quite effective, and merger of paradoxical principles might make understanding of ethical practices a mite more difficult. If these ethical issues were comprehensively understood and adhered to, as faced by forensic psychologists, these could be effectively dealt with and solved (Nova Southwestern University, 2011). Interactive Relationships between Ethics and Multiculturalism There is a comprehensive relationship between ethics and multiculturalism. The APA has provided guidelines, and there is a lot of literature available about the cultural diversities of people from different countries. To develop a working relationship with the offenders or patients that undergo treatment, the practitioner must be familiar with at least the basics about most cultures and their different customs and ways of life. With the massive immigrations that have taken place during the last several decades, especially from Asia, it is practically impossible not to find literature or a person who is completely familiar with the complexities of these cultures. Issues that crop up constitute misunderstandings about religion and ethnicity. A practitioner must realize that this religious belief or custom is the most that these people can relate to in an alien country, and is probably a defense mechanism against the possibility of being overwhelmed by a foreign culture. Keeping this in mind, the forensic psychologist must retain sensitivity and compassion when dealing with people from a different background than their own. This eventually puts the person at ease and gets better results (Ranzijna, McConnochieb, & Wendy, 2008). Reference List American Psychological Association. (2013). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Retrieved February 02, 2013, from American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2009). Introduction to Forensic Psychology. Retrieved February 02, 2013, from SAGE: http://www.sagepub.com/bartolstudy/chapters.htm Bush, S. S., Conell, M. A., & Denney, R. L. (2005). A proposed Model of Ethical Decision Making in Forensic Psychology. Washington DC: APA Books. Cronin, C. (2011). Ethics in Forensic Psychology. Retrieved February 01, 2013, from All about Forensic Psychology.com: http://www.all-about-forensic-psychology.com/ethics-in-forensic-psychology.html Lidia, F. A., & Mullaney, H. A. (1998). Assessing Patients Whose Language You Do Not Know: Can The Absurd Be Ethical? The Clinical Neuropsychologist , 12 (1), 113-126. Manesse, J., Saito, G., & Rodolfa, E. (2003). Diversity Based Psychology: What Practitioners and Trainers Need to Know. San Diego: University of California. Nova Southwestern University. (2011). Center for Psycholigical Studies. Retrieved February 02, 2013, from Clinical psychology: http://cps.nova.edu/programs/psyd/tracks.html Powell, M. B., & Bartholomew, T. (2003). The Treatment of Multicultural Issues in Contemporary Forensic Psychology Textbooks. Psychiatary, Psychology and Law , 10 (1). Ranzijna, R., McConnochieb, K., & Wendy, A. D. (2008). Towards cultural competence: Australian Indigenous content in undergraduate psychology. Australian Psychologist , 43 (2), 132-139. Suzuki, L. A., & Ponterotto, J. G. (2008). Handbook of Multicultural Assessment: Clinical, Psychological, and Educational Applications. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Read More