Ethics in Community Psychology

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Objectives of the Presentation
1. Define Community Psychology: Understand the principles and concepts of community psychology.

2. Ethics in Community Psychology: Learn about ethical principles, values, and opinions in community psychology.

3. Ethical Challenges: Identify and discuss the ethical challenges faced in community psychology.

4. Practices for Ethical Decision Making: Develop skills for making ethical decisions in community psychology.

5. Implications of Ethical Practice: Understand the implications of ethical practice in community psychology.

6. Key Considerations for Community Intervention

WHAT IS COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY?
• Is an area of the psychological discipline that focuses on the interaction between
the individual and the social context in which he or she lives.

• It applies psychological knowledge and skills in a community context with the aim
of improving the wellbeing of people in that context.

• community psychology was born out of the dissatisfaction with the limitations of
traditional psychotherapy approaches.
 WHAT ARE ETHICS

 Are standards principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting

of an activity.

 They involve considering what is right or wrong, usually in terms of rights,

fairness, obligations and benefits to the society.

 Ethics are crucial because they establish a foundation of trust, fairness and
respect among members.

 They allow positive interactions, collaborative problem-solving and overall

well-being by guiding decision making towards morally responsible actions,
ensuring everyone is treated equitably and contributing to common good.

 Without ethical principles, communities can experience instability, conflict

and lack of social cohesion.
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 HOW DOES ETHICS IN A COMMUNITY LOOK LIKE?

Ethics in a community involves a set of principles and values that guide the behaviour and decision-making
of individuals and organizations within that community.

Ethical principles in community psychology.

Informed consent
Obtain informed consent from community members and organization before initiating any research or
intervention,
Ensuring participants understand their rights and the nature of the research.

Example: A community psychology leading a substance abuse prevention program for adolescents in a local
community
which will include series of workshops and group session aimed at educating participants about the risks of
substance abuse and promoting healthy copying mechanism, before the psychologists start the program,
they needs to ensures that all
participants provides informed consents

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 Community engagement and autonomy.

-It emphasizes the importance of respecting the autonomy and decision-making capacity of communities,
Community psychologists should involve community members in the planning, implementation and
evaluation of interventions to ensure that they are culturally relevant, effective and sustainable
Example: Rather than imposing a pre-designed program of substance abuse prevention, community
psychologists uses the community based participatory approach to involve the community members in the
planning and decision-making process.

Cultural competence.

Being aware of and respecting the cultural differences, values and beliefs in a community.
Example: A psychologists conducting a research with a indigenous community they take time to learn about
the community’s cultural practices, traditions and values. They also ensures that their research methods are
culturally sensitive and that community members are involved in all stages of the research process.

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 Ethical challenges

Lack of organized guidelines

-Community-based participatory research may not have clear ethical guidelines.

Example: a psychologists working with local school districts to develop a mental health program for
students. The program aims to provide counselling services and support for students struggling with anxiety,
depression and trauma. However the districts has no clear guidelines or policies for providing mental health
services in schools.

Power dynamics

•-Community psychologists often work with marginalized communities where power dynamics can create
ethical dilemmas regarding who benefits from interventions and who has decision-making authority.
•Example: When a psychologists is working with a local community organization to develop a community-
based program for food insecurity, during the planning the community organization executive is dominating
decision making process ignoring the input of community members.

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 Ethical challenges

Confidentiality
•-Maintaining confidentiality can be difficult in small communities where individuals are
interconnected, requiring careful consideration of privacy boundaries.
•Example: Working with a small group of individuals in a community and needing to balance
protecting the privacy of some individuals while also needing to share some relevant information
to community members to effectively implement interventions or community issues can lead to
the risk of disclosing the individual’s personal details.

•Resources limitations
•-Limited resources available in certain communities may restrict the scope of interventions and
create ethical dilemmas regarding who receives services.
Example: When a psychologist has a large caseload of clients with significant needs in a
community with limited funding for mental health services, forcing them to make difficult
decisions about which clients to prioritize and potentially not being able to provide adequate
care to everyone due to resource limitations.

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Practices for ethical
• The ecological systems decision making.
approach. By Urie
Bronfenbrenner.
Transparency and accountability.

•Conflict of interest disclosure: Clearly disclose any personal or professional conflicts that may
• It is the best fit
influence decision-making.
•Ethicalapproach for CP,Seek
review process: as itfeedback from peers and ethics committees regarding proposed
considers the individual
interventions.
within the context of
•Reporting
theirand evaluation:and
environment Regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, reporting
findings transparently to stakeholders.
social systems.
•Continuous reflection and learning.

•Ethical decision-making framework: Utilize a structured process to analyze ethical dilemmas, including
identifying relevant factors, considering potential consequences, and consulting with colleagues.
•Professional development: Stay updated on ethical guidelines and emerging issues in community psychology
Through ongoing learning and training.

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Implications ofsystems
• The ecological ethical practice
approach. By Urie
Building Trust.
Bronfenbrenner.
-Ethical practices in community psychology help build trust between community
psychologists, community members and stakeholders. This trust is essential for
• It is the best fit
effective collaboration,
approach for CP, as it participation and intervention.
considers the individual
Enhanced
withinresearch
the contextquality.
of
-ethical engagement
their can improve the relevance and impacts of research findings.
environment and
social systems.
Advocacy for ethical standards
-Need for a clearer guidelines and framework to navigate ethical challenges in
community psychology.

Meaningful community change.

•Ethical practice ensures that interventions are adjusted to the specific needs of the
community, leading to more sustainable and impactful positive changes.
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VALUES UNDERPINNING ETHICAL COMMUNITY PRACTICE
PERSONAL VALUES
Overview of Ecological Systems Approach
Self-Determination and Participation
Promotes the ability of individuals to pursue their goals of life in consideration of other people’s needs.

Given a 1.caseMicrosystem:
where the majority of the clients
The individual' are unemployed
s immediate forsuch
environment, the longest time, hence they are depressed
as family,
,anxious, low mood-tendencies and feeling hopeless.
school, or workplace.
2. Mesosystem: The interactions between different microsystems, such as
Micro-level
Inform clients
between about the and
family therapy process, benefits, and risks.(CBT)
school.
• Ensure clients understand how therapy will help them
• Take 3.control
Exosystem: Thelives
of their external
throughenvironment that influences
self-determination the Autonomy
using Client individual such as
aspect.
parent'
 PERMITS s workplace
the ,social
clients to set networks
realistic ,community
goals for resources that doesn’t have a direct
their recovery
 Inquire abouton
impact their desired timeline for recovery and help reach their goals .
an individual.
e.g., "How long would you like to see yourself
4. Macrosystem: The broader cultural, social, and economic context that
shapes the individual’s experiences .It includes cultural values, social norms, laws,
Macro-level
Community
publicEngagement
policy, economic status and media influence.
Initiate a program which will address the issues of unemployment through delivering entrepreneur skills and
joining forces with the government to advocate funding for the local business ,hence employment opportunities
• With the favour of E.S.A., C.P considers a shift
will increase
• This programme of course
from individualistic should serve
perspective to at the best
holistic interest of the community-allowing the community to
perspective.
participate in every Step going forward(transparency)
Promoting health and well-being.
Overview of Ecological Systems Approach
The physical and emotional well-being of the community members in relation to
their structural, contextual, and economic context.

Jane is a1. 35-year-old single

Microsystem: mother
The whose
individual' enrolled into
s immediate two jobs.Yet
environment, they
such as are still poor and can not afford
family,
Medical-aid service. She's struggling with depression,mood-disorder,panic disorder, social expectation
school, or workplace.
and backpains.
2. Mesosystem: The interactions between different microsystems, such as
Micro-level
between family and school.
• Inform clients how the therapy will unfold and how will it help the.(PST)
3. Exosystem:
• Informing Thetheir
them that external environment
personal thatwillinfluences
information the individual
remain confidential suchthem
assuring as
parent's workplace ,social networks ,community resources that doesn’t have a direct
Meso-level
impact on an individual.
Contacting with their employers to better improve their working environment services-provide medical aid and
allocate4.reasonable
Macrosystem: The broader
working hours forcultural, social, and
their employers economic
to ensure context that
productivity.
shapes the individual’s experiences .It includes cultural values, social norms, laws,
• Establish
publica program in the community
policy, economic status andwhich
mediawill promote inspiration for single mothers to continue hustling
influence.
and being independent-feminism spirit while also uplifting one another mentally and spiritually.

• With the favour of E.S.A., C.P considers a shift

Macro-level
The policies
from need to be employed
individualistic withinto
perspective the working
holistic space environment to ensure that people are not
perspective.
overworking and underpaid and ensuring that every employer get a medical aid attention
(they are in a right state to work productively(mentally).
VALUES Overview
UNDERPINNINGof Ecological
ETHICAL Systems
COMMUNITY Approach
PRACTICE

Collective values: includes respect for

Social justice- promotes fair allocation
1. Microsystem: of bargaining
The individual' powers,
s immediate resources, and
environment, such as family,
obligations in communities in relation to people’s differential levels of power, needs and abilities.
school,
A case where or workplace.
the clients are experiencing psychotic disorders.
2. Mesosystem: The interactions between different microsystems, such as
Micro-Level (Therapy)
between family and school.
1. 1. let them know everything about the therapy that they will undertake the referral psychiatrist for
3. Exosystem: The
(ANTIDEPRESSANTS, external environment
MOOD-STABILIZES PILLS)that influences
medication the individual
allocation.(PDT ,HT)such as
parent's workplace ,social networks ,community resources that doesn’t have a direct
• Taking impact
control on
of the
an healing process-how is the medication /therapy now improved your social life are they making any
individual.
different? –Do you think is a great idea to implement the 2?
4. Macrosystem:
• And allowing them to beThe broaderwith
transparent cultural, social, and economic context that
their opinions.
shapes the individual’s experiences .It includes cultural values, social norms, laws,
Macrolevelpublic policy, economic status and media influence.
1. program allowing community members to voice concerns and being taken to the with local authorities to be addressed.

• With
Macro-Level theAdvocacy)
(Policy favour of E.S.A., C.P considers a shift
1. Engage withindividualistic
from government agencies to advocate
perspective for resource
to holistic allocation and monitor resource distribution to ensure equal
perspective.
access.
Relational values: include
Overview of Ecological Systems Approach
Respect for human diversity and human dignity

emphasizes the importance of acknowledging, appreciating, and respecting the unique social identities and
1. Microsystem:
experiences of individualsThe individual'
within s immediate environment, such as family,
the community.
school, or workplace.
Maria, a2.35-year-old
Mesosystem:immigrant from Latin
The interactions America,
between has been
different experiencingsuch
microsystems, symptoms
as of depression,
including feelings
between of sadness,
family hopelessness due to the discrimination ,she’s experiencing within the community
and school.
3. Exosystem: The external environment that influences the individual such as
Micro Level
parent's workplace ,social networks ,community resources that doesn’t have a direct
impactconsent:
1. Informed on an individual.
Ensure clients understand the therapy process, including the theoretical approach and
potential Outcomes .Collaborate
4. Macrosystem: The broader with clients to
cultural, choose
social, anda suitable
economictherapy
contextthat
thatrespects their cultural
background,
shapessocial identities, personal
the individual’s beliefs,
experiences experiences
.It includes and perspectives.
cultural values, social norms, laws,
public policy, economic status and media influence.
Meso Level

• With connections:
1. Community the favour ofFacilitate
E.S.A., C.P connections
considers a between
shift clients and community members through events,
social activities and culturalperspective
from individualistic celebrations. to holistic perspective.
2.Start a program which will raise awareness about social exclusion and the impact it has on marginalized
Caring and Compassion
Overview of Ecological Systems Approach
emphasizing the importance of empathy, kindness, and concern for the well-being of community
members.
1. Microsystem: The individual's immediate environment, such as family,
Micro Level
school, or workplace.
1. Psychodynamic Therapy :Addressing unconscious thoughts: Help the individual bring unconscious
2. Mesosystem:
thoughts The interactions
to the conscious between
level, possibly different
revealing microsystems, about
misconceptions such astheir spouse.
between family and school.
• 2. Family therapy:
3. Exosystem: Provide environment
The external therapy to that
the influences
entire family, working through
the individual such as emotions, rebuilding
trust,
parent's workplace ,social networks ,community resources that doesn’t have a direct
and strengthening relationships.
impact on an individual.
4. Macrosystem: The broader cultural, social, and economic context that
Meso Level:
1. Encouraging
shapes the loyalty andexperiences
individual’s responsibility: Develop
.It includes a program
cultural promoting
values, social norms, men's
laws, loyalty to their
partners andpolicy, economic status and media influence.
public
recognition of their roles as heads of the family and role models.

• With the favour

2. Empowerment of E.S.A., C.P
and education: considers
Educate mena shift
about the impact of their behaviour on their children,
from individualistic
empowering them to make perspective
positive to holistic perspective.
changes.
Key Considerations for Community Intervention

1. Self-awareness: Recognize your own biases, history, and values to avoid imposing them on the community.

2. Reflective stance: Be sensitive to how your relationships with community members and the community context
might impact your work.

3. Cultural awareness: Recognize that different communities prioritize different values.

4.Value sensitivity: Understand that the importance of each value varies across cultures.

5. Culturally responsive intervention: Tailor community interventions to respect and account for the unique
cultural values and expressions of each community.
SUMMARY CONCLUSION
•

• In conclusion, ethical practice in community psychology is essential for fostering meaningful and respectful
engagement with communities. By embracing reflective awareness, valuing diversity, and prioritizing collaborative
decision-making, community psychologists can navigate ethical challenges while promoting social justice and
empowerment.

• Ethical interventions should be rooted in cultural sensitivity, transparency, and an ongoing commitment
to assessing community needs and adjusting approaches accordingly.

• Ultimately, maintaining an ethical stance ensures that interventions serve the best interests of the community,
fostering long-term trust and sustainable positive change.