Understanding psychology in forensic contexts

Psychology and Ethical Standards

Ethical standards are indeed fluid and generally change as the values and needs of society change. The example of how it was permissible in society to discriminate against someone on the basis of their sexual orientation (viewing homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder) is indeed perfect in demonstrating that as society evolves there conceptions of right and wrong, moral and immoral are indeed fluid as well. I think that many of the codes and principles which are currently in place which relate to sex will be adjusted and adapted in time. One should not forget that America was one a group of Puritan colonies; how America and Americans relate to sex can often be traced to that Puritanical mindset at times. As one NBC anchor asserted, "we're a very puritanical country and so we're a little bit sexually repressed. So on the one hand we like hearing stories about sex, but we want certain things from our leaders that maybe is not realistic and maybe that's the sad part" (Brennan, 2011). This is a prime example: Americans need to at once become more anaesthetized to sex scandals and a bit more lenient and open with what they consider acceptable sexual behavior.

For instance, several principles from the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists which will likely be adjusted over time are principles regarding sexual relations with co-workers with whom one has a supervisorial role and sexual relations with the relatives of clients and patients. For example, code 7.07 states, "Sexual Relationships with Students and Supervisees: Psychologists do not engage in sexual relationships with students or supervisees who are in their department, agency, or training center or over whom psychologists have or are likely to have evaluative authority" (apa.org, 2013). While one could argue that this is just a standard code of conduct designed to prevent sexual harassment, it's likely that these particular sexual harassment codes will change over time as well. While sexual harassment laws are necessary, laws which infringe upon what two consulting adults can or cannot do are simply an infringement of the rights of the individual. Even though one could argue that engaging in sexual relations with an individual who can have a direct impact on one's life and career "muddies the water," the fact remains that two consenting adults should have the autonomy to do as they like. Engaging in sexual relations with someone can often complicate matters in life, but people do it anyway. Having strict prohibitions on such freedoms is far too restrictive on personal freedoms. Rather in the future it's more likely that adults will be able to develop more adept coping mechanisms for dealing with the complications that can arise via sexual relations.