Ethical Issues in Couples and Family Therapy - Essay Example

Ethical Issues in Couples and Family Therapy In all duties and obligations, every person is expected to act in a mature and ethical manner. This is exactly what couples, managers, teachers, therapists, lecturers, doctors and all other workers should be learn and practice. Ethical issues in couples arises when a partner indulges in unacceptable or expected activities and do things differently. Even in our private lives, it is important that we act in an ethical manner and in accordance with moral expectations. In this paper we will identify the major ethical issues in couples and family therapy as presented in the article. With reference to Rusu & Turliuc (85), every person is expected to behave appropriately based on human ethics and morals. Ethical behavior is the right way a person is expected to behave. The right behavior helps a person choose the good and not the bad. Positive ethical behavior makes a person apply the best practices by ensuring all words and actions follow the principles of ethics and morality. It is a major expectation of everyone that other people will have good behavior. “Ethical behavior is very significance and important in the society.” This study is important since it explores the significance of human ethical behavior and its relevance in couples and family therapy in relation to religious point of view. Positive ethical behavior is expected in all careers and engagements in life. In our current society, people do not always do what is expected from them. Sometimes a person is aware that a given action will have negative consequences but still does it. According to the authors, it is clear that in every society, it is something nice for every person to be responsible and do only what is right (Rusu & Turliuc 86). This is the best way to maintain social responsibility and ethical conduct; thus this is the problem examined in the article. At the same time, a person should not be guided to act in a given manner. Such ethical behavior and act should be intrinsic and consistent with human ethical principles, values and moral obligations. The importance of this behavior is that the society will live in harmony and reduce a great deal of problems faced in it. Quantitative methodology is used in the analysis hence several points are being made. For instance, ethical behavior determines a person’s action and how it will influence the people around him. This can be explained using the utilitarian theory, which is a major ethical theory. According to utilitarianism, an action is viewed ethical if it promotes the greatest or best consequence. The resultant consequence, according to the utilitarian theory, should maximize happiness. The argument of this ethical theory is that actions are only right if they will promote happiness and wrong if they produce the opposite of happiness. Any form of ethical behavior should therefore be aimed at maximizing happiness. On the other hand, the Kantian ethics theory is widely applied in determining what ought to be an ethical behavior. According to the Kantian theory, an action is deemed right if it is done in accordance with the moral principles or rules. This moral principle is one required or established by rationality. According to Kant, there are certain moral rules used to determine whether an action is ethical or not. These two theories qualify in determining and outlining ethical practices or behavior. Proper ethical behavior determines how people interact with one another and how issues affecting them are addressed. Ethical behavior therefore plays a big role in the workplace, in religion, and also in human interaction in the society. In human life, persuasion is a very important practice whereby people influence others through an ethical behavior (Rusu & Turliuc 89). Persuasion is the process of guiding a person or oneself towards the acknowledgement and adoption of attitude, idea, or an action. This is achieved by use of symbolic or rational means. Persuasion can be achieved by use of other means such as propaganda, appeal to certain emotions, deception, or use of appeals based on reason. Human communication should be defined ethically and it is an important element of persuasion. Communication is also the beginning of sharing information between a person and another or between groups. To achieve successful communication, which is very significant in persuasion, the application of ethical behavior is necessary. The first thing in persuasion is to examine the gender, social expectations, and the need of the persuasion. This approach ensures that ethical persuasion has successfully been achieved (Rusu & Turliuc 91). Listening is a key tool during persuasion. With developed ethical behavior, a person will easily be accepted by others thus making it possible to influence the ideas and opinions of others. This is the reason why possession of proper ethical values and practices makes it possible to persuade others. Ethical practices and behavior greatly determine the outcome of persuasion (Rusu & Turliuc 93). For instance, a person with proper ethical and moral practices in the society has a higher chance of influencing another person and vice-versa. People begin by viewing the relevance of the persuader based on his moral obligations and ethical foundations. Ethical behavior will determine the approach undertaken by the individual. For instance, proper ethical practices will require that a person understands the other individual, or group, before the persuasion process begins. As well, there is need to understand the problems faced and the feelings aroused. A mutual understanding between the parties is necessary so that the two can figure out what they should do. The initial approach towards persuasion is critical because it determines the fate of the process. Ethical behaviors require that an individual is keen on what is being said, how it is said, and the significance of the entire process. The person will also attach a great significance to the process and argument in order to prevent unfair persuasion. Use of appropriate emotional and tone appeals is also an important element of ethical practice in persuasion. While other forms of persuasion exist, the use of moral practices and ethical behavior remains the best process because a common understanding between the parties or individuals is founded thus increasing trust. Another important thing is that, the persuader practicing ethical behavior will determine the nature and intention of the persuasion thereby coming up with the right approach. He will know what concepts to use and the kind of message to be passed across. This person also knows that the immediate goal is to develop a mutual understanding, and not necessarily a problem-solving process (Rusu & Turliuc 95). The mutual understanding between the two individuals creates value and trust. When this is achieved, it will be very easy to elicit the other individual’s feelings, desires and thoughts about the subject being discussed. Ethical behavior does not call for misconception or deception in the process. The person being persuaded is at liberty to disagree or defend his opinions without necessarily having to cause trouble. Proper and critical description of the topic of discussion is also employed in an ethical manner to ensure the process is successful. This approach therefore determines the success of ethical persuasion. Conclusion Several conclusions have been drawn from the analysis. For example, ethical behavior is very importance in the society. It determines how people relate with each other, and how problems faced in the society are addressed. Different theories are outlined to describe the process of ethical behavior and response to societal dynamics. Theories such as Utilitarian and Kantian ethics theory have been used to explain human behavior and moral conduct thus making it possible to address a couple of issues affecting humanity. In this paper we have also seen the importance of ethical behavior and practices. Human relationships can only be maintained by behaving in an ethically acceptable manner. In the process of persuasion, ethical practice is very significance because it determines the success of the process and how the ideas, opinions and decisions of another person can be influenced. Ethical practices are therefore beneficial in influencing the success of persuasion. Work Cited Rusu, Petruta & Turliuc, Maria. Ethical issues of integrating spirituality and religion in couple and family therapy. Romanian Journal of Bioethics, 9.1 (2011): 83-99. Print. Read More