Running head: MORAL REASONING PAPER

MoralReasoning
AnikaDavis
WSU
SW3410

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2
MoralReasoning

Peoplebehaveinmanyways,formanydifferentreasons.Muchofhumanbehaviorcan
beexplainedbyapersonsreasoning.Moralorethical.Moralsaresocietalorculturalbeliefs
regardingrightorwrongbehaviors.Incontrast,ethicsrefertotheparticularacceptableor
unacceptablebehaviorsamongcertaingroupswithspecificroles.Moralsandethicsbothplay
keyrolesinapersonsdecisionmakingprocess.
Moraldecisionmakingistheprocessofdecisionmakingwhichisbasedonapersons
morals.Whenanindividualisfacedwithadecision,theyconsidertheirmoralbeliefsanduse
thosebeliefsasabasisformakingtheirdecision.SupposeJane,adevoutCatholicsocial
worker,hasateenageclientdisclosetoherthatsheispregnantandwouldlikeinformationon
abortion.Theteenagerstatesthatsheconsideredadoptionbutisleaningtowardabortion
becauseshereallydoesnotwantherfamilytoknowaboutherpregnancy.Theteenagerfurther
statesthatshebelievesitwouldbeeasiertojustkillherselfandattemptedtotakeanoverdoseof
pillsaweekago.Sheasksthesocialworkertohelpherfindinformationonabortionclinics
becauseifherfamilylearnsofherpregnancyshewillcertainlykillherself.BecauseofJanes
moralbeliefs,shemightfeelcompelledtoswaytheclienttowardadoptionornotassistheratall
becauseshefeelssostronglyagainstabortionandsuicide.Inmyopinion,Janesmoralbeliefs
clearlyarenotbestforherteenageclient.Ifsheattemptedtochangehermindanencouragedher
toinformherparentsorseekadoptionservices,shemightdomoreharmthangoodtoherclient.
Ontheotherhand,Janesethicalstandardsrequirehertoputherpersonalbeliefsasideandassist
herclientwiththeclientsbestinterestsinmind.Herethicalresponsibilitiesasasocialworker
conflictwithhermoralbeliefs.IfJanedecidedtohelpherclientfindabortionclinics,shewould

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beusinganethicaldecisionmakingprocess.ShewouldputherCatholicmoralbeliefsasideand
exploreherethicalstandardsandresponsibilitiesasasocialworker.
Socialworkersshouldbefamiliarwithbothmoraldecisionmakingandethicaldecision
makinginordertodevelopanunderstandingofwhyindividualsmakecertaindecisions,andto
ensuretheyoperateinthebestinterestoftheirclientsputtingtheirownpersonalbeliefsand
opinionsaside.
Itisimperativethatsocialworkersunderstandthedifferenceinmoraldecisionmaking
andethicaldecisionmaking.AccordingtoBarsky(2010),byunderstandinghowindividuals
determinemoralbehavior,wegaininsightintohowtoengageothersindiscussionsofvalues,
morals,andethicalissues(p.45).Whenasocialworkerrecognizesthebasisofanindividuals
decisionmakingprocess,itcanaidtheminbecomingmoreeffectiveintheirpractice.Ifasocial
workerhasaclientwhohasbaseddecisionsoncertainmoralvalues,theywouldbemore
effectiveinappealingtotheclientsmoralvalues.Ifaclientishavingdifficultywithanethical
decision,itisimportantfortheworkertobeawareofthisandassistthembasedontheirethical
principles,valuesorstandardsasopposedtodealingwithmorals,whichmayconflictethics.
Also,socialworkersshouldbeawareofwhentheirdecisionmakingprocesswarrantstheuseof
ethicalvaluesinsteadofmoralvalues.Ignoringethicalstandardsindecisionmakingcould
causeasocialworkertobeinviolationoftheirethicalcodes.
Moraldecisionmakingcanbeaffectedbymanydifferentfactorsincludingbiological,
psychological,socialandspiritualfactors.Forexample,Ihavelostmanylovedonesdueto
adolescentgunviolence.WithinthelastthreeyearsIhavelostanephew,cousin,andmyfather.
AllweremurderedinthecityofDetroitbyyoungblackmenwhoshotthemfornoreason.
Becauseofthissocialfactor,Imightbemorelikelytobejudgmentalofyoungblackmenwho

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carryweapons.Itismyresponsibilityasasocialworkertoensurethatthissocialfactordoesnot
affectmyjudgmentwhendealingwithclients.Mydecisionmakingprocessshouldbebasedon
ethicalvalues,promotingpositivesocialchangeandsocialjusticeformyclient.
IfIwereawomanwhowasunabletobarechildrenthisbiologicalfactorcould
significantlyinfluencemyjudgmentwhendealingwithclients.Supposemyclientisatwoyear
oldwhowasadoptedbya35yearoldprofessionalwomanandthebiologicalmotherdecidedshe
wantedthechildreturnedtoher.Thebiologicalmotherhasnoincome.ThefactthatIamunable
tobarechildrencouldcausemetohavemoresympathyfortheadoptedmother.Imightidentify
morewithherandimaginehowIwouldfeelifIwereinthesamesituation,ignoringtherights
andfeelingsofthebiologicalmother.Thisbiologicalfactorshouldbesetasidewhenmaking
ethicaldecisions.Theonlyfactorsthatshouldbeconsideredaretheethicalprinciplesthatapply
tomyclient.Inthiscase,myfocusshouldbeonthebestinterestofthetwoyearold.Factors
suchastheimpactofbeingreturnedtothebiologicalmotherversustheimpactofremainingin
thecurrenthome.
HypotheticallySpeaking
Itisimportantthatasocialworkerisabletosupportclientsdecisions,evenwhenthey
believethosedecisionsaremorallywrong(butlegal).Iamabletosupportaclientsdecisions
regardlessofwhetherIbelievetheirdecisionsaremorallyrightorwrong.Ihaveworkedmany
yearstolearntosupportthedecisionsofothersregardlessofmypersonalfeelingsabouttheir
decisions.ManyofmyfamilyandfriendshavecreditedmewiththefactthatIhavealwaysbeen
supportiveofthemevenwhenIdidnotagreewiththeirchoices.NASWCodeofEthicscode
1.02SelfDeterminationstates:

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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.
Becauseofmybeliefinthesocialworkvaluesandstandards,Iunderstandsocietaland
culturaldiversity.Irecognizethefactthatwhatmaybemorallywronginmyopinioncouldbea
culturalnormtosomeoneelse.BecauseofthediversityIwillfaceinmysocialworkpractices,I
willalwaysremainrespectfulofthedecisionsofmyclients.
If you find yourself with a client who is of a different religious, racial, or ethnic
background, are you willing to meet them on their own cultural ground? For example, if you are
working with a newly emigrated Islamic family in which the role of the female in the household
may be more limited than in the United States, can you respect this interaction style? Are you
willing to take the time to read, or talk to more experienced colleagues about work with clients
with these differences? I am from a family with a very diverse background. My maternal
grandfather is Muslim and attends a mosque with primarily Pakistani members. My fathers family
is Catholic. I have Puerto Rican, African American, Caucasian, and a few other close relatives of
different nationalities. Needless to say, there are many different cultural value systems among
them. This has allowed me to develop a deeper respect for social diversity. The members of my
extended family are all able to coexist comfortably without conflict. Just as I have been able to
within my own family, I am able to extend my respect for difference to my clients.
I will seek to understand and remain culturally competent with regard to any client I work
with. If I am unfamiliar with a clients cultural or religious background and fail to seek a further

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understanding I would be in violation of the NASW Code of Ethics 1.05 (a)(b) and (c) Cultural
Competence. This code seeks to ensure that:
(a) Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior
and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.
Meaning as a social worker, I should recognize the culture from which my Islamic client is
from and be able to identify the reasons for certain behaviors within that culture. I should also be
able to identify the strengths within that culture or of certain behavioral patterns.
(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.
As a social worker, I am required by this standard to seek knowledge that I do not already
possess regarding my clients culture in order to effectively assist my client in achieving any goals
they desire to pursue.
(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.
I will educate myself on my clients cultural background and conduct our work based on
that background and not on the morals and values that I personally possess.
Although I have had difficulty saying no to people in my personal life, I will delineate clear
and appropriate professional boundaries with clients by verbally communicating those boundaries

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with clients when necessary. If there is a need to convey such boundaries further, I will do so via
written communication and/or non-verbal gestures when appropriate. An example is set forth in
NASW Code 1.10 Physical Conduct. This code makes it clear that Social workers are responsible
for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern even appropriate
physical contact. This means they clear boundaries should be set even while engaged in
appropriate conduct. A social worker should not wait until a boundary has been crossed to set
limits.
Maintaining client confidentiality is imperative in the social work profession. I will adhere
to Code 1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality by refraining from disclosing any client information
unless proper authorization has been obtained by the client or an authorized individual. If a need
arises to discuss a client, I will exclude any identifying information.
As stated in the NASW Code of Ethics 6.04(c) Social and Political Action, social workers
should concern themselves with social justice for all people, and should work to develop and
increase conditions that encourage respect for cultural and social diversity universally. I will
uphold this standard by becoming increasingly involved with social programs and policies to effect
positive change. I will also seek and utilize policies and practices that demonstrate respect for
difference, and advocate for programs and institutions that demonstrate cultural competence.
With respect to Code 2.09 Impairment of Colleagues (NASW), if I suspect a colleague is
impaired by substance use or abuse I would have a private meeting with the colleague when
possible and inform him of my suspicions. I would determine if the colleague requires additional
assistance or if he plans to address the problem on his own. In the event that the colleague is
unapproachable or refuses to address the situation, I would be compelled to inform the proper

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authority as established by my employer. Failing to address my concern with my colleague or

notifying the proper authority under these circumstances would place me in violation of the Code.
A social worker should always stick to commitments made to employers or organizations
regardless of new employment offers or opportunities. If I were employed by an agency and was
offered a position at a new agency my first responsibility is to my current employer. Any
employment contract, to which I am currently bound, must be fulfilled unless the employer agrees
to release me from the contract. In the event that I do not have an employment contract and
work at will, it would be reasonable to allow my current employer a minimum of two (2) weeks to
find a replacement worker and distribute my caseload. If the new employer insists that I began
employment immediately, this would certainly present an ethical dilemma for me. Before I could
leave my current employer, I would promptly notify my every client and inform them of their
options to continue service as set forth in Code 1.16 (f) Termination of Services (NASW). I
would ensure that all of my reassigned cases are to workers who are competent in the clients
specified areas of concern. In addition, I would make certain that my current employer is
comfortable with the staff replacing me before I resign.
Lastly, when working with involuntary clients I will always be sure to follow the ethical
standards of Code 1.03(d), ensuring that my clients are fully informed of the limitations of service,
limits of confidentiality and terms under which the case would be closed. This will ensure that I
operate under full transparency and protect the rights of my clients.

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References

Barsky,A.E.,(2010).EthicsandValuesinSocialWork:Anintegratedapproachfora
comprehensivecurriculum.NewYork,NY:OxfordUniversityPress.
National Association of Social Workers. (2014). Code of Ethics of the National Association of
Social Workers. Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/pubs/code/code.asp