Ethical Decision Making

Linda L. Black & Jody Huntington

Ethics as a construct has its intellectual roots in the discipline of philosophy. The term philosophy is a translation of the combination of the Greek words philos , meaning love, and sophia , meaning wisdom. Hence, the study of ethics has as its foundation a love for wisdom . The terms ethics and morals are often used interchangeably. Indeed, they do share similar attributes, such as value-based judgments about appropriateness and inappropriateness of human behavior and interactions. Yet, many in the field of counseling and psychology differentiate them as follows: Ethics or ethical codes are the agreed upon standards of aspirational and mandatory behaviors and practices by the members of professional organizations such as the American Counseling Association (ACA) or the American Psychological Association (APA). These standards guide and inform the professional practice of members and promote the expectation that counselors will protect their clients' welfare and freedoms. Morals No ...

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