Activity 01
Ethical Dilemma Role-Play
Provide small groups with cards describing a challenging ethical scenario, for instance, a minor client confides about substance abuse. Students role-play the interaction between the psychologist and the client, deciding on and justifying an ethical course of action.
Explain the principle of informed consent and its importance.
Facilitation TipPause the role-plays midway to have the class discuss possible outcomes before the groups conclude their scenes.
What to look forUse an 'ethical scorecard' where students rate a short, described scenario on a scale of 1 (highly unethical) to 5 (highly ethical) and write a one-sentence justification for their rating.
AnalyzeEvaluateCreateDecision-MakingSelf-Management
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 02
Case Study Analysis
Present students with a detailed but anonymised case study from an Indian context. In pairs, they must identify the ethical principles at play, pinpoint any potential violations, and write a brief report on how the situation should have been handled.
Analyse potential ethical dilemmas a psychologist might face.
Facilitation TipUse a case that involves conflicting principles, like confidentiality versus duty to protect, to encourage deeper analysis.
What to look forAssign an essay where students analyse a complex case study involving multiple ethical dilemmas. They must identify the issues, refer to specific ethical principles, and propose a step-by-step course of action for the psychologist.
AnalyzeEvaluateCreateDecision-MakingSelf-Management
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 03
Create a 'Client's Bill of Rights'
In small groups, students draft a charter or 'Bill of Rights' that a psychology clinic could display in its waiting room. This document should outline what clients can expect regarding confidentiality, consent, and professional respect, translating abstract principles into client-friendly language.
Justify the need for a strict code of ethics in the field of psychology.
Facilitation TipHave groups present their charters and vote on the clearest and most comprehensive one for a hypothetical clinic.
What to look forProvide a checklist of the key ethical principles. Students reflect and mark their level of confidence in explaining each principle and providing an example.
AnalyzeEvaluateCreateDecision-MakingSelf-Management
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Begin by establishing the core principles as the foundation. Use the case studies and role-plays to show how these principles are applied in messy, real-world situations. Encourage debate and highlight that the goal is to find the most ethical path, which requires careful thought.
Through these activities, your students will learn to think like ethical practitioners, able to analyse complex situations and make responsible decisions.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Confidentiality means a psychologist can never tell anyone what a client says.
Confidentiality is a primary ethical duty, but it has legal and ethical limits. A psychologist may be required to break confidentiality if a client poses a serious risk of harm to themselves or others, or in cases of child abuse, as mandated by Indian law.
It is okay for a psychologist to be friends with their client after therapy ends.
This is known as a dual relationship and is strongly discouraged. Maintaining professional boundaries is essential to prevent potential exploitation and to ensure the objectivity of the therapeutic relationship is not compromised, even after termination.
Ethical rules are just common sense and not that important to study.
While some principles align with common sense, a formal code of ethics provides a clear framework for complex situations where 'common sense' can be ambiguous or biased. These codes are developed from years of experience to protect both the client and the professional.
Methods used in this brief