Theoretical Foundations for a Clear Distinction Between Ethical and Normative- Moral Behavior in Psychologist Professional Performance

Abstract

Professional ethical behavior is a complex phenomenon that cannot be limited to following articles in a code. Professional deontological, moral, or legal norms are relevant, but they do not represent all elements involved in professional ethics. For psychologists to perform ethically, it is necessary to approach professional ethics in terms of behavior and to explore the previous processes
that drive it, while it is insufficient to just observe and judge specific actions or their consequences. The purpose of this article was to create a theoretical basis to clarify the difference between ethical and normative-moral behavior in psychologists’ professional performance. The method of this study was of a theoretical documentary type, which required processes of analysis, synthesis, and conceptual reworking. To achieve this purpose, the
concepts of ethics, morals, professional deontology, and behavior were analyzed. Additionally, the theories of the ethics of responsibility and of dialogic discursive ethics, various professional ethical-deontological declarations and codes from psychology, the dual-system theory of thinking, ethical decision-making models, and moral reasoning theories were addressed as well. As a result, a theoretical foundation was constructed to support the thesis that the professional ethical behavior of psychologists should be distinguished from normative-moral behavior, for which criteria such as autonomy, systems of thought, values that guide decision-making, use of dialogue, and type of moral reasoning that determine, behavior can be used.