PSBA018 Ethical Issues in Psychology

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Danka Cieślarová (lecturer)
Mgr. Helena Klimusová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Helena Klimusová, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jarmila Valchářová
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The focus of the course is on ethical issues that psychologists are confronted with in their practice. The students will work with information on ethical issues and dilemmas encountered in various areas of psychological practice; the course aims to enhance students' sensitivity to ethical issues. At the end of the course students should be able to understand ethical codes and standards, with the aim to prevent ethical problems and lapses; to understand models of ethical decision-making process; to be aware of one's own value system and be able to substantiate their ethical decisions; to employ critical thinking about ethical issues in psychology; to acquire the skills needed to promote ethical behavior in psychological practice and research settings.
Learning outcomes
Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to understand ethical issues specific to different areas of psychological practice and ethical regulation practices; to apply ethical decision-making procedures in a situation of ethical dilemmas; to design and assess research projects with respect to ethical issues.
Syllabus
  • Introduction: the importance and application of ethics in psychology Basic ethical concepts; ethical discourses and dimensions; ethical problems and how they arise; ethical dilemmas Theories of ethics (deontological, consequentialist, virtue based theories...) Core ethical principles of respect, competence, responsibility and integrity Ethical reasoning and decision-making, resolving ethical problems Regulating of psychological practice (law, professional ethical codes, ethical boards, preventive measures, sanctions, current state in the Czech Republic and abroad) Ethics in psychological assessment Ethics in crisis intervention Ethics in clinical psychology and psychotherapy Ethics in counselling psychology Ethics in work/organizational psychology Ethics in psychological research Ethics of the psychologists in the media
Literature
    required literature
  • WEISS, Petr. Etické otázky v psychologii. Vydání první. Praha: Portál, 2011, 349 stran. ISBN 9788073678456. info
  • LINDSAY, Geoff. Etika pro evropské psychology. Translated by Lenka Němečková. 1. české vyd. Praha: Triton, 2010, 262 s. ISBN 9788073874155. info
    recommended literature
  • Bersoff, D. N. (2003): Ethical Conflicts in Psychology. Washington: APA.
  • JANKOVSKÝ, Jiří. Etika pro pomáhající profese. Vydání 1. Praha: Triton, 2003, 223 stran. ISBN 8072543296. info
  • HAŠKOVCOVÁ, Helena. Lékařská etika. 3. rozš. vyd. Praha: Galén, 2002, 272 s. ISBN 8072621327. info
  • Standardy pro pedagogické a psychologické testování. 1. české vyd. Praha: Testcentrum, 2001, 192 s. ISBN 8086471071. info
  • Blízké a vzdálené :etické teorie a principy práce s lidmi. Edited by Jan-Olav Henriksen - Arne Johan Vetlesen - Miluše Juříčková. 1. vyd. Boskovice: ALBERT, 2000, 210 s. ISBN 80-85834-85-5. info
Teaching methods
Lectures; Seminars - class discussions, group work.
Assessment methods
To pass the colloquium, student has to 1) attend at least 80 % of seminars 2) to write an essay (home written, on a topic of student's own choice) 3) to obtain at least 75 % points in final written test
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/phil/jaro2023/PSBA018/index.qwarp
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/PSBA018