IMPLEMENTING OPERATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY IN NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICAL ISSUES (original) (raw)

2018, International Scientific Conference, SECURITY SYSTEM REFORMS AS PRECONDITION FOR EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATIONS

Operational psychology is a complex applied profession in the national security system, including diverse duties and roles. Psychology, by itself, differs from other professions by having its ethical code oriented to ―do not harm‖ principles, while the ethical principles and roles inherent for the police, military or intelligence community usually collide with them. On the other hand, there is a lack of guidance in the operational security professions. Given the complexity of the context or work specifics and the decision-making process of all operational professions, the whole picture and the decision-making process become even more complicated. Operational psychology, as an in-between role of psychology and operational society, has specific content and implementation, which requires additional guidance for the psychological ethical code and specific training and monitoring mechanisms, as well as consultations with other psychologists. Ethical dilemmas are mostly found in the mixed/dual agencies, competences, multiple/dual relationships and roles, confidentiality, informed consent, unlawful orders, personal problems and etc. Dialogue workshops and round tables with all relevant experts are necessary, to clarify the relevant ethical principles for these fields and give the operational psychologists a ―team role‖ in their working duties. It is important to consider these issues in order to facilitate the process of operational psychology implementation in the system in its true sense, contributing to the improvement of the ethics and trust in the psychology profession. This paper will be oriented to the psychological ethical obligations overview, in order to identify, introduce and discuss specific ethical challenges and risks of the professional ethical compromise within practicing the field of operational psychology. The aim is to protect the operational psychology profession within the national security context, by minimizing the space for eventual abuses, misconducts or inappropriate treatment by the security or other psychology professionals.