Academic literature on the topic 'Moral and ethical aspects of Observation (Psychology)'

The paper is devoted to applying semiotic methodology in modeling a female narrative identity of the Victorian epoch in cultural and historical context. Before modeling a female narrative identity, signs of feminine identity have been defined in the proper narrative. They are considered as the ways of self-identification, self-manifestation, and self-expression. For the analysis of the ethical qualities of the female narrative identity, the research was focused on the identification of semiotic codes of Victorian culture, with placing a moral code in its organizing center. The objective of the paper lies in finding the way how fictional narrative engages with the reader, and how written narrative discourse facilitates or inhibits the formation of narrative identity. The methodological framework for analyzing narrative identity constituted the works on identity theory, constructivist philosophy; the findings in cultural psychology in defining «self» and «identity». Semiotic modeling was applied to unveil some common tendencies in approaches towards the notions of «identity» and «self» in the Victorian novel by considering it an emergent entity, which appears during the interaction of the individual with the narrative on the way to construct the possible world as a probable state of facts. The ethical code of conduct and moral in the novels under consideration is combined with the techniques of the realistic method, which presupposed detailed and deep insights into the psychology of the main female characters, prompted by the systemic accentuation of the prominent psychological traits of women. In such a fashion, Victorian writers (Anne Bronte, Charlotte Bronte, and William Thackeray) developed mastery in psychological writing by widening the spectrum of narrative techniques concerning character’s psychology, different psychological traits of the characters, and their ethos. Therefore, Agnes Grey’s prominent character-forming center lies in her juvenile maximalism and engaging optimism, on the contrary to her mother, who is moved by a dominating desire of self-sacrifice for the sake of the well-being of the family and love to her husband. Rebecca Sharp in her turn has a central characteristic expressed by charming bright green eyes, which signify her readiness and determination for success to be wealthy. It has been stated, that Anne Bronte’s realistic modeling of the female destiny is based on the nuanced perception of the materiality of the reader, who in phenomenological way focuses on one aspect of the object and re-constructs the remaining aspects by his consciousness. This observation is consonant with the radical philosophy of enactivism and global semiotics in their attempt to correlate noetic and noematic levels of perception. Perspectives of further research are connected with research of this enactive process of world creation in the process of interaction with the narrative in the light of phenomenology and global semiotics.

Background: Moral sensitivity is a life-long cognitive ability. It is expected that nurses who work in a professional purpose at “curing human beings” should have a highly developed moral sensitivity. The general opinion is that ethics education plays a significant role in this sense to enhance the moral sensitivity in terms of nurses’ professional behaviors and distinguish ethical violations. Aim: This study was conducted as intervention research for the purpose of determining the effect of the ethics training on fourth-year students of the nursing department recognizing ethical violations experienced in the hospital and developing ethical sensitivity. Methods: The study was conducted with 50 students, with 25 students each in the experiment and control groups. Students in the experiment group were provided ethics training and consultancy services. The data were collected through the data collection form, which consists of questions on the socio-demographic characteristics and ethical sensitivity of the students, Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the observation form on ethical principle violations/protection in the clinic environment. The data were digitized on the computer with the SPSS for Windows 13.0 program. The data were evaluated utilizing number, percentile calculation, paired samples t-test, Wilcoxon test, and the McNemar test. Results: The total Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire pre-test score averages of students in the experiment group were determined to be 93.88 ± 13.57, and their total post-test score averages were determined to be 89.24 ± 15.90. The total pre-test score averages of students in the control group were determined to be 91.48 ± 17.59, and their total post-test score averages were determined to be 97.72 ± 19.91. In the study, it was determined that the post-training ethical sensitivity of students in the experiment group increased; however, this was statistically not significant. Furthermore, it was determined that the number of ethical principle protection/violation observations and correct examples provided by students in the experiment group were higher than the control group and the difference was statistically significant. Ethical considerations: Written permission and ethical approval were obtained from the university where the study was conducted. Written consent was received from students accepting to participate in the study. Conclusion: As a result, ethics education given to students enables them to distinguish ethical violations in a hospital and make a proper observation in this issue.

Based on data from 139 adolescents, results of a factor and correlational analyses of the Ethical Behavior Rating Scale are reported. Reliability coefficients were obtained from a test-retest method and estimates of internal consistence. Construct validity was determined by correlating the rating scale with test items from the Ethical Reasoning Inventory. Two factors (moral character and verbal/moral assertiveness) were derived from the varimax rotated matrix. The results suggest that the rating scale reflects the behavioral aspects of moral reasoning.

Ethical problems regularly arise during daily care in nursing homes. These include violation of patients' right to autonomy and to be treated with respect. The aim of this study was to investigate how caregivers emphasize daily dialogue and mutual reflection to reach moral alternatives in daily care. The data were collected by participant observation and interviews with seven caregivers in a Norwegian nursing home. A number of ethical problems linked to 10 patients were disclosed. Moral problems were revealed as the caregivers acted in ways that they knew were against patients' interest. We used a theoretical interpretation according to Habermas' discourse ethics on the importance of dialogue when deciding moral courses of action for patients. This theory has four basic requirements: communicative competence, equality, self-determination, and openness about motives.

For a long time, it seemed that Aristotelians and Kantians had little to say to each other. When Kant the moralist was known in the English-speaking world primarily from his Groundwork and his Critique of Practical Reason, Kant's conceptual vocabulary of “duty,” “law,” “maxim,” and “morality” appeared quite foreign to Aristotle's “virtue,” “end,” “good,” and “character.” Yet ever since philosopher Mary Gregor's Laws of Freedom, published in 1963, made Kant's The Metaphysics of Morals central to the interpretation of his ethical thought, it has become clear that such “Aristotelian” terms as virtue, end, good, happiness, and character are also central to Kant. Aristotelians and Kantians now see that they have plenty to say to each other, and they have gone from being adversaries to sharing a sometimes unprincipled urge to merge central aspects of Aristotle's and Kant's ethical thought.

The article focuses on the determinants of the psychology of the professional activities of accountants and causes of professional psychological deformation of the person. The main problems of moral and ethical character of modern society are identified.

The purpose of this article was to propose a model of moral and ethical development according to the philosophy of sufficiency economy. Documentary study was used by studying the role of Buddhist monks and analyzing the consistency of morality, ethics, and philosophy of sufficiency economy consisted of modesty, rationality, and immunity that based on the conditions of knowledge and morality. Results indicated that the guidelines for moral development began with the development of education in order to provide people with knowledge with various abilities, and also apply the aforementioned knowledge to occupations building well-being for yourself and your family. For moral and ethical development, it is very important aspect for social development. Considering with the current situation in Thai society, it can be seen that the chaos of Thai society today is mainly due to the lack of moral and ethical lifestyle. Therefore, moral and ethical development must know how to improve oneself to be people with sufficient knowledge, and be a person who spends sufficiently on education, a person with good physical health and mental health, and be a learner who know how to solve problems, and know how to think reasonably. There are five aspects in a model of moral and ethical development consisted of education, Dhamma propagation, social welfare, inherit culture, promote and preserve environment. There are two important principles for the maximum benefit which are virtues for a good household life, and virtues conducive to growth in wisdom.

The article highlights the actual problem of spiritual and moral aspects of professional socialization of modern student youth, and in particular psychology students. The concepts of professional socialization, morality, spirituality are analyzed. The materialistic and religious points of view in understanding spirituality are considered. It was found that student youth is in the most intensive phase of socialization, which is associated with studying at a higher educational institution, and the important factors of professional socialization of students are the motivation and moral orientation of the individual, professional worldview, the values of professional activities of specialists and the system of value orientations. A theoretical analysis of the literature has shown that value orientations are a spiritual phenomenon, the essential basis of a person, a mechanism for self-organization of her spiritual world, and a person's moral self-determination is closely related to the level of his spiritual development. The connection of universal human moral values with personal and professional is the driving force behind the development of a specialist, and the conscious development of value orientations in students and the purposeful formation of spiritual and moral values in them are necessary for their successful professional socialization. The profession of a psychologist requires increased attention to the moral side of the functions performed, since his professional activity is directly related to interaction with people, influence on their inner world. Therefore, the ethics of his work is based on universal human moral values. In the professional activity of a psychologist, the main ones are the ideals of the free and all-round development of the personality and its respect, the rapprochement of people and a pronounced orientation towards the value of another person. Therefore, spiritual and moral development is a priority in the process of professional socialization of psychology students, during which special attention should be paid to the formation of the moral self-concept of personality, virtues, empathy, self-esteem and the assimilation of moral values of the professional activity of psychologists, taking into account their ethical code.

This article considers the foundation of nursing as a moral practice. Its basic claim is that all nursing knowledge and action reside on a moral foundation. The clinical gaze meets vulnerability in the patient’s human condition. To see a patient’s wound is to see his or her hurt and discomfort; it is a concerned observation. To see the factual and pathophysiological is at the same time to see the ethical: the moral realities of suffering, pain and discomfort. A nurse’s emotional sensitivities are central to understanding a patient’s experiences of illness. Emotions reveal value and ascribe moral importance to certain situations; they are addressed centrally by vulnerability and the moral realities of illness. Hence, the essence of nursing knowledge and nursing performance cannot be understood merely as ontology (i.e. as being-with-the-other). Nursing is basically being-for-the-other; it is responsibility; it is ethics.

Background: While there have been studies exploring moral habitability and its impact on the work environments of nurses in Western countries, little is known about the moral habitability of the work environments of nurses and midwives in resource-constrained settings. Research objective: The purpose of this research was to examine the moral habitability of the work environment of nurses and midwives in Ghana and its influence on their moral agency using the philosophical works of Margaret Urban Walker. Research design and participants: A critical moral ethnography was conducted through the analysis of interviews with 30 nurses and midwives, along with observation, and documentary materials. Ethical considerations: After receiving ethics approval, signed informed consent was obtained from participants before data collection. Results: Five themes were identified: (1) holding onto the values, identities, and responsibilities of being a midwife/nurse; (2) scarcity of resources as limiting capacity to meet caring responsibilities; (3) gender and socio-economic inequities shaping the moral-social context of practice; (4) working with incoherent moral understandings and damaged identities in the context of inter- and intra-professional relationships; and (5) surviving through adversity with renewed commitment and courage. Discussion: The nurses and midwives were found to work in an environment that was morally uninhabitable and dominated by the scarcity of resources, overwhelming and incoherent moral responsibilities, oppressive conditions, and workplace violence. These situations constrained their moral agency and provoked suffering and distress. The nurses and midwives negotiated their practice and navigated through morally uninhabitable work environment by holding onto their moral values and commitments to childbearing women. Conclusion: Creating morally habitable workplaces through the provision of adequate resources and instituting interprofessional practice guidelines and workplace violence prevention policies may promote safe and ethical nursing and midwifery practice.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African organisations are facing fierce international competition, and to survive in the long-term it is necessary that they be led by leaders that will move them towards their vision in an ethical manner. While society condemns and the media extensively report fraud involving millions of rands by top executives, the truth of the matter is that more money is probably lost through low productivity, idleness and the wasting of resources through mismanagement (Mal an & Smit, 2001 ). In this study it is believed the cause of this problem is ultimately one of leadership. Leaders fail to direct and influence their subordinates to work with efficiency and integrity in order to achieve the organisation's objectives (Malan & Smit, 2001). Solutions for these problems must be found in order to build organisations that will prosper in the future. This study hopes to offer part of the solution. The main objective of this study was to establish whether there is a relationship between transformational leadership and the development of an ethical climate in organisations. One of the objectives of this study was to establish whether there was a direct relationship between altruism and transformational leadership. Another goal of this research was to establish whether integrity had a moderating effect on the relationship between transformational leadership and ethical climate. A model was developed to illustrate these relationships, which was tested in the South African context. A literature study of the role of transformational leadership, ethical values of altruism and integrity, and ethical climate in organisational performance was conducted. The relationship between these constructs has also been analysed in the literature study. A questionnaire consisting of five sections was compiled to test the hypotheses resulting from the structural models. These questionnaires were distributed to various organizations in the Cape Town area. The sample comprised 200 persons, each of whom had to complete the questionnaire. Section A was designed to give an indication of the demographics of the participants. Section B measured transformational leadership, based on Bass and Avolio's Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). Section C was compiled in accordance with Victor & Cullen's Ethical Climate Questionnaire (ECQ), which measured respondents' perceptions of their work climate. Section D measured altruism, based on Langley's Value Scale. Section E measured integrity and was based on Butler's Conditions of Trust Inventory. The statistical analysis was conducted through correlation and regression analyses. The results revealed that altruism positively correlates with transformational leadership, and that transformational leadership in turn has a positive relationship with ethical climate. No convincing empirical support could be found for the proposition that integrity moderated the effect of leadership on ethical climate. However, many new and interesting insights were gained through the results. Conclusions were drawn from the results obtained and recommendations are made for future research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies staar strawwe internasionale kompetisie in die gesig. Om in die langtermyn te oorleef, is dit nodig dat hulle gelei word deur organisatoriese leiers wat hulle op 'n etiese wyse na hul strategiese doelwitte sal lei. Alhoewel die gemeenskap miljoene rande se bedrog deur topbestuurders veroordeel en die media ekstensief daaroor verslag lewer, is dit 'n feit dat meer geld waarskynlik verloor word deur lae produktiwiteit, sloerdery en die vermorsing van hulpbronne as gevolg van wanbestuur (Malan & Smit, 2001 ). Met hierdie studie word aangevoer dat die oorsaak van hierdie probleem uiteindelik een van leierskap is. Leiers misluk om hul ondergeskiktes te bestuur en te be'invloed om sodoende effektief en met integriteit op te tree, ten einde die organisasie se doelwitte te bereik (Malan & Smit, 2001 ). Oplossings moet vir hierdie probleme gevind word ten einde organisasies te bou wat in die toekoms sal floreer. Hierdie studie poog om voorstelle te maak om hierdie probleme te help oplos. Die hoofdoelwit vir hierdie studie was om vas te stel of daar 'n verband tussen transformasionele leierskap en die ontwikkeling van 'n etiese klimaat in organisasies is. Een van die doelwitte van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of daar 'n direkte verband tussen altru'isme en transformasionele leierskap is. 'n Verdere doelwit was om te bepaal of integriteit 'n modererende effek op die verband tussen transformasionele leierskap en 'n etiese klimaat het. 'n Model is ontwikkel om hierdie verwantskappe te illustreer, en is in die SuidAfrikaanse konteks getoets. 'n Literatuurstudie oor die rol van etiese waardes, veral die kernwaardes van altru'isme en integriteit, transformasionele leierskap en 'n etiese organisasieklimaat in organisatoriese prestasie is onderneem. Die verband tussen hierdie konsepte is ook in die literatuurstudie ontleed. 'n Vraelys, bestaande uit vyf afdelings, is opgestel om die hipoteses voortvloeiend uit die strukturele modelle te toets. Hierdie vraelyste is uitgedeel aan verskillende organisasies in die Kaapstad-omgewing. Die steekproef het uit 200 mense bestaan. Afdeling A van die vraelys was ontwerp om 'n aanduiding van die demografie van die respondente te gee. Afdeling B het transformasionele leierskap gemeet, gebaseer op Bass en Avolio se 'Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire' (MLQ). Afdeling C was opgestel in terme van Victor en Cullen se 'Ethical Climate Questionnaire' (ECQ), wat respondente se indrukke van hulle werksklimaat gemeet het. Afdeling D het altru'isme gemeet, gebaseer op Langley se 'Value Scale.' Afdeling E het integriteit gemeet en het Butler se 'Conditions of Trust Inventory' as basis gebruik. Die statistiese analise was uitgevoer deur middel van korrelasie- en regressieontledings. Die resultate het getoon dat altru·isme positief met transformasionele leierskap korreleer en dat transformasionele leierskap op sy beurt 'n positiewe verband met etiese klimaat toon. Geen oortuigende empiriese gronde kon gevind word vir die stelling dat integriteit die effek van leierskap op etiese klimaat modereer nie. Die resultate het nietemin heelwat nuwe en interessante insigte aan die lig gebring.

The most ordinary man or woman has means of knowledge concerning his own feelings and circumstances that immeasurably surpass those that anyone else can have.-John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
One feature that varies within competing conceptions of medical shared decision-making is how a patient's values are to be engaged by a physician. One detail that can be overlooked under "shared" decision-making is whether or not a physician ought (or be allowed) to attempt to persuade the patient to adopt particular health-related values. Some argue that it is incumbent on a physician to share her privileged understanding of medicine so as to help her patient embrace "better" values. This thesis argues that it is dangerous to patient autonomy for a physician to exert moral suasion on her patient to attempt to influence or change those values; the danger lies in the power imbalance between patients and physicians that seems inherent in medical encounters, and is exacerbated by the sick role. Thus, while a physician ought to help her patient articulate his health-related values, she ought not try to change them.

The purpose of this study was to look at the relationships between moral philosophy classification and elements of risk, which in turn effect overall decision-making processes. Specifically, two moral philosophy classification were examined: utilitarian and egoism.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study arose from a high need to determine the factors contributing to leader effectiveness in South African organisations by identifying the determinants thereof. The purpose of the study furthermore was to identify the determinants of unethical and counterproductive behaviours in the workplace. There is a belief that leaders should set aside ethical standards to succeed in the rough-and-tumble world of business. In contrast, evidence has revealed that ethical leaders can frequently be seen as more effective in organisations. Since the purpose of this study was to examine factors contributing to perceived leader effectiveness within South African organisations, the relationship between perceived effective leadership, ethical climate, organisational justice, ethical leadership and core ethical values was investigated. The aim was to provide further theoretical and empirical evidence that effective ethical leadership can be realised through instilling an ethical organisational climate in which integrity, altruism and fairness are exhibited and encouraged. A theoretical model was developed to explain the structural relationships between the latent variables and effective leadership within organisations. Substantive hypotheses were formulated in order to determine the validity of the propositions made in the literature review, with the objective of testing the proposed ethical climate structural model. The sample was selected from of employees of a large retail company mainly situated in the Western Cape but with branches all over South Africa and in the rest of Africa. The selection consisted of 224 first-line and middle management employees. Each of the respondents completed the Leader Effectiveness Questionnaire (LEQ), the Ethical Climate Scale (ECS), the Justice Scale, the Leadership of Ethics Scale (LES), the Revised Behavioural Integrity Scale (BIS-R) and Langley’s Value Scale. The hypotheses and the structural model were empirically tested using various statistical methods. Reliability analysis was completed on all the measurement scales and satisfactory reliability was found. The content and structure of the measured constructs were examined by means of confirmatory factor analysis and the results indicated that good fit was achieved for all the refined measurement models. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was subsequently used to determine the extent to which the conceptual model fitted the data obtained from the sample and to test the relationships between the constructs. The results revealed that integrity and altruism have a direct and positive influence on ethical leadership. Support furthermore was found for the influence of ethical climate on leader effectiveness. The results however indicated that support could not be found for the relationship between organisational justice and leader effectiveness. Conversely, it was found that ethical leadership has a direct and positive influence on leader effectiveness. In addition, organisational justice also exhibited a positive influence on ethical climate. On the other hand, ethical leadership did not have a positive influence on ethical climate. Finally, support was found for the influence of ethical leadership on organisational justice. Final conclusions were drawn from the results obtained and recommendations for future research are made.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het ontstaan uit ‘n dringende behoefte om die faktore wat bydra tot leier-doeltreffendheid in Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies te bepaal, deur die determinante daarvan te identifiseer. Verder was die doel van die studie om die determinante van onetiese en teenproduktiewe gedrag in die werkplek te identifiseer. Daar is ʼn bewering dat leiers hul etiese standaarde eenkant toe moet skuif om in die hedendaagse besigheidswêreld suksesvol te wees. In teendeel is dit egter bewys dat etiese leiers in organisasies dikwels as meer effektief beskou kan word. Met die doel van hierdie studie om die faktore te bestudeer wat bydra tot waargenome leier doeltreffendheid in Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies, is die verwantskap tussen waargenome leier doeltreffendheid, etiese klimaat, organisatoriese geregtigheid, etiese leierskap en kern etiese waardes in hierdie studie ondersoek. Die studie het gepoog om addisionele teoretiese en empiriese bewyse te lewer dat etiese leiers die persepsie van doeltreffende leierskap indirek kan beïnvloed deur die skep van ‘n etiese organisasieklimaat waarin integriteit, altruisme en billikheid ten toon gestel en bevorder word. ‘n Teoretiese model is ontwikkel om die strukturele verwantskappe tussen die latente veranderlikes en doeltreffende leierskap in organisasies te verklaar. Substantiewe hypotheses is geformuleer om sodoende die geldigheid van die voorspellings uit die literatuurstudie te bepaal. Die doel hiervan was om die voorgestelde etiese klimaat strukturele model te toets. Die steekproef het bestaan uit werknemers van ‘n groot kleinhandel maatskappy wat hoofsaaklik in die Wes-Kaap geleë is, maar takke regoor Suid-Afrika en in die res van Afrika het. Die steekproef is saamgestel uit 224 eerste-vlak en middel-bestuur werknemers. Elke respondent het die Leader Effectiveness Questionnaire (LEQ), die Ethical Climate Scale (ECS), die Organisational Justice Scale, die Leader of Ethics Scale (LES), die Revised Behavioural Integrity Survey (BIS-R) en die Altruism Scale ingevul. Die hipoteses en die strukturele model is empiries getoets met behulp van verskeie statistiese metodes. Betroubaarheidanalise is op al die metingskale uitgevoer en bevredigende betroubaarheid is gevind. Die inhoud en struktuur van die gemete konstrukte is deur middel van bevestigende faktor-ontledings ondersoek en die resultate het aangedui dat integriteit en altruisme ‘n direkte en positiewe invloed op etiese leierskap het. Ondersteuning is ook gevind vir die invloed van etiese klimaat op leier doeltreffendheid. Die resultate het egter aangedui dat ondersteuning nie vir die verband tussen organisatoriese geregtigheid en leier doeltreffendheid nie gevind kon word. Daarteenoor is daar gevind dat etiese leierskap ‘n direkte en positiewe invloed op leier doeltreffendheid het. Boonop het organisatoriese geregtigheid ook ‘n positiewe invloed op etiese klimaat getoon. Daarteenoor het etiese leierskap nie ‘n positiewe invloed op etiese klimaat gehad nie. Laastens is ondersteuning gevind vir die invloed wat etiese leierskap op organisatoriese geregtigheid het. Finale gevolgtrekkings is afgelei van die resultate wat verkry is en aanbevelings is vir toekomstige navorsing gemaak.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ethical decision making self-efficacy of a sample of state-credentialed psychologists and counselors. A questionnaire was constructed which asked respondents to rate the confidence they possessed in relation to thirty items (reflecting ten a priori ethical decision-making domains). The items described ethical knowledge and ethical decision-making tasks and situations. The questionnaire also included eight questions pertaining to respondents' personal characteristics and professional education, training, and experience. The questionnaire was mailed to 400 Arizona-licensed psychologists and 340 Arizona-certified counselors. Although no formal, a priori hypotheses were established prior to the survey, it was expected that the extent and quality of professional ethics training might be associated with higher scores on factors generated by an exploratory factor analysis performed on survey results. In particular, it was anticipated that a values-clarification component of ethics training would be associated with higher ethical decision-making factor scores. Approximately 50% of the total sample responded to the survey. The factor analysis of scorable questionnaires resulted in a six-factor model of ethical decision-making self-efficacy. The six factors were: (1) Knowledge, (2) Behavior, (3) Thinking, (4) Awareness, (5) Resources, (6) Authorities-Conflict Analysis/Resolution. Having taken an ethics course as a student was associated with higher scores on factors 1, 5, and 6. Having taken an ethics training seminar as a postgraduate was associated with higher scores on factors 1, 2, and 5. Those respondents with a values clarification component to their ethics training scored higher on factors 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Study results suggest that further development of an Ethical Decision Making Self-Efficacy Scale and pursuit of a national survey of psychologists and counselors addressing issues raised in this study are warranted.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
Psychology as a human science is rendered desperate by the human vacuum in its own contents. This paper argues that by adopting the methods and techniques of the natural sciences, psychology and psychotherapy not only transform the patient or client into an a-historical and a-social entity, but also propose an utopian view of reality and lose the inherent moral character of the psychotherapeutic endeavour. It seems as if the Post-Modern theoretical and psychotherapeutic alternatives do not offer a solution that solves the above mentioned problems. This paper aims to introduce the work of the French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, as a stimulus providing a different starting point in the search for solutions to the mentioned problems. Such an approach seeks to understand the radically ethical character of the therapeutic meeting by recognising the fundamental responsibility of the therapist, not to “totalise” (that is to reduce) otherness (the not me) into sameness (the for me) by assigning differences into pre-established characteristics, properties and categories. Only by recognising the otherness of the client in the “face-to-face meeting” and reacting to the call of the other can psychotherapy be ethical and render justice to historical and social situatedness of the other facing us in therapy. Some of the implications that the ethical challenge of Levinas holds for psychology will be explored. This includes the implications for the therapeutic meeting, psychological ethics, and the possibility of a “Levinasanian psychology”.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current study was an investigation into the moral development amongst rugby players in residence at the University of Stellenbosch. An adapted version of the Ethic of Care Interview was applied on thirty participants, 15 rugby players and 15 non-rugby players. Results were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test and indicated that there was no significant difference in moral reasoning between the two groups. However, there was a significant difference (pAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige studie was 'n ondersoek oor die morele ontwikkeling van koshuis rugbyspelers aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch. 'n Aangepaste weergawe van die Ethic of Care Interview is op dertig deelnemers toegepas. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 15 rugbyspelers en 15 nie-rugbyspelers. Resultate is deur die Mann-Whitney U toets ontleed, en het aangedui dat daar geen beduidende verskille tussen die twee groepe se vlak van morele redenering was nie. Daar was wel 'n beduidende verskil (p