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Running Head: Moral

Moral Reasoning
Kyle Lynch
Wayne State University
August 6, 2015

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There are many factors that contribute to a persons ability for moral reasoning. In the
book Ethics and Values in Social Work Allen Barsky writes: Moral decision making and
behavior are determined by a combination of biological, psychological social and spiritual
factors. ( Barsky, 2010) This means that the way we make decisions is partly inherent and
partly learned. Most decisions though, are based on a persons morals and ethics. In the book,
Barsky defines morals as general or societal conceptions of right and wrong behaviors he
defines ethics as conceptions of right and wrong behaviors among a particular group with a
specific role (e.g. professional social workers, nurses, or probation officers). (Barsky, 2010) In
life, a person uses morals and ethics to guide their decision making. It is especially important to
understand both morals and ethics as a professional social worker. When working with clients a
social worker will have hard decisions to make. Understanding morals and ethics will help a
social worker to act in an appropriate manner. Understanding morals will help them to
understand what has caused their client to need their help. When making decisions during
treatment the social worker must understand ethics in order to behave in a professional way.
As a social worker a persons own biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors
may affect their own moral decision making, judgement and behavior when impacting clients.
Biologically, for example a man can value the life of an unborn child, but he can never
completely understand the feelings of a woman who is making a choice when it comes to
abortion, because he cannot bear a child. Psychologically, we know that the majority of people
develop along a regular set of guidelines psychologically. These steps include pre conventional,
conventional, and post conventional. Pre conventional is when the child is first aware of moral
issues. They know what the rules are. Next, conventional people judge the morality of actions
by comparing choices with the views and expectations of others, including family, peers, and

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general society.(Barskey, 2010). Finally, post conventional reasoning Individuals begin to take
the interests of others and emotional capacities to factor in their personal views, judgements, and
perspectives. Knowing these stages of development will help a social worker identify if their
client is developing appropriately psychologically, and allow them to treat them accordingly.
Social and spiritual factors may impact a social workers moral decision making when working
with a client. Although a social worker may have differing social and spiritual norms or beliefs,
it is important that they remain open to people with different beliefs. Over all, biological,
psychological, social and spiritual factors do affect a social workers moral decision making.
Deciding what the correct response to a situation is can be difficult. Sometimes it is
necessary to make moral choices as a social worker that may go against what ones personal
conception of what is morally or ethically correct. It is important that social workers make the
best decision for their client, and their moral beliefs, as long as themselves or no one else is at
risk. If a worker thinks a home is not clean to their standards, they cannot simply remove a child
from a home. If the child is not in danger, just because the worker would not live in those
conditions does not give them the right to remove the child. While social workers are people too,
who have biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors of their own, they must make
ethical decisions in accordance to the NASW code of ethics.
Social workers have a responsibility to act ethically when making a moral decision about
an ethical dilemma. Barsky writes that social workers should follow the guidelines listed below.

Identify attitudes that may be affecting your thought processes.


Assess the strength of each attitude in relation to extremity, certainty, and
centrality. Identify the source of each attitude (e.g. personal or professional
experience, professional education, family role models, media, or religious
upbringing).

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Remind yourself to be open to hearing facts, opinions, and perspectives that may

conflict with their own attitudes and beliefs.


Make use of supervision or consultation to help you assess how your attitudes
might be impairing your ethical decision making and to help you strategize how
to deal with these issues. (Barsky, 2010)

In practice social workers face making moral decisions about ethical dilemmas regularly. It is
important to remember the guidelines to help make an objective moral decision.
Social workers have the responsibility to support a client in making their own decisions.
Whether the worker agrees with it or not, if the client is not at risk it tis their job to encourage the
client to make their own well informed decision. In the NASW code of ethics, code number 1.02
Self-Determination states:
Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist
clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Social workers may limit clients
right to self-determination when, in the social workers professional judgment, clients
actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves
or others. (Code, 2008)
This means that if a client for example wants to stop taking medications, leave treatment,
terminate a pregnancy, or lie to an employer the social worker has a responsibility to allow the
client to make their own decision. The worker can try to inform the client of alternatives and
repercussions, but ultimately the decision must be the clients.
When working with clients a social worker has the responsibility of cultural competence.
It is outlined in the NASW code of ethics code number 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social
Diversity. This guideline states:

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A. Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and
society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.
B. Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients cultures and be able
to demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to
clients cultures and to differences among people and cultural groups.
C. Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of
social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin,
color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status,
political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability
(Code, 2008)
Abiding by this code means that the social worker should follow all three of the guidelines. If a
worker was asked to work with a Middle Eastern woman with limited roles in the United States
he should take the steps to meet her on her own cultural ground. He should take the time to
study and understand the culture and if necessary ask colleagues for advice.
It is important that social workers be able to delineate clear an appropriate boundaries
when working with clients. The NASW code of ethics discusses this in code number 1.06
Conflicts of Interest. Part A states:
Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the
exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. Social workers should inform
clients when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable steps to
resolve the issue in a manner that makes the clients interests primary and protects clients
interests to the greatest extent possible (code, 2008).
Setting up clear guidelines for appropriate boundaries is important to avoid any problems that
can arise from conflicts of interest.

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Keeping things between a social worker and client confidential is very important. As a
social worker, one has the responsibility outlined in the NASW code of ethics number 1.07
Privacy and Confidentiality. This states: Social workers should respect clients right to privacy.
Social workers should not solicit private information from clients unless it is essential to
providing services or conducting social work evaluation or research. Once private information is
shared, standards of confidentiality apply (Code, 2008). If it is difficult for a social worker to
keep confidentiality in their private life, they must keep in mind that as a social worker you have
the responsibility to protect your clients right to privacy.
Social workers should be the voice of change. If a social worker does not believe that the
rules of their agency or the laws of their state do not hold their clients best interest first, they
have the responsibility to take action. NASW code 6.04 Social and Political Action states that
social workers should work to help those disadvantages by the system. Part B states: Social
workers should act to expand choice and opportunity for all people, with special regard for
vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed, and exploited people and groups. (Code, 2008) If a
worker fells that their client does not have a choice or opportunity they should be the voice to
change that.
Unfortunately, people from all walks of life can suffer from addiction. Social workers are
no exception. The NASW code of ethics number 4.05 Impairment states Social workers should
not allow their own personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal problems, substance abuse, or
mental health difficulties to interfere with their professional judgment and performance or to
jeopardize the best interests of people for whom they have a professional responsibility. (Code,
2008) If a collogue is having an issue that is interfering with their professional responsibility a
social worker should take action. The first step would be to talk to the co coworker and offer

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some help. Next approach a supervisor. Not getting help for such an issue would violate this
code.
In the field, job opportunities can show up unexpectedly. Sometimes workers find
themselves looking for other employment. Either way, the NASW code of ethics code 3.09
Commitments to Employers states Social workers generally should adhere to commitments
made to employers and employing organizations. (Code, 2008) This means that if it is possible
one should follow the guidelines outlined in their contract. They should give the appropriate
notice and follow procedures when possible.
If a worker is suffering from burn out, it is no excuse to use derogatory language toward
or about their client. The code of ethics code 1.12 Derogatory Language states: Social workers
should not use derogatory language in their written or verbal communications to or about clients.
Social workers should use accurate and respectful language in all communications to and about
clients. (Code, 2008) This means that it is a social workers responsibility to be respectful to
their clients at all times. If this becomes an issue for a social worker, they should talk to a
supervisor about ways to help alleviate their feelings.
Being clear and upfront is another important value in social work. Especially when
working with a client who is involuntary. A worker should lay out the rules for treatment and
termination so that all parties are aware of the state of the case. The NASW code of ethics code
4.04 Dishonesty, Fraud, and Deception states: Social workers should not participate in, condone,
or be associated with dishonesty, fraud, or deception. (Code, 2008) Following this code, a social
worker should tell all member of the case what the terms and the goals of their work together
will be.

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Moral Reasoning is something that develops in all of us. As social workers it is


important to understand and abide by the NASW code of ethics. In practice, one will definitely
come across cases that challenge our personal views. It is vital that social workers use the
guidelines outlined in the code of ethics to navigate these difficult decisions they must make.

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References
Barsky, A. (2010). Ethics and values in social work an integrated approach for a comprehensive
curriculum (pp. 44-59). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Code of Ethics (English and Spanish) - National Association of Social Workers. (2008).
Retrieved August 5, 2015, from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

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