Thoughts and opinions (simple) on numbered responses. Please number and separate to not cause confusion. 

Psychology, History and Social Justice

1. What is the role of psychology regarding social justice?

Psychology plays a role in both equality and social justice. Injustice resulting from social inequality can produce traumas, particularly those resulting from environmental and cultural traumas. The film from the readings was an excellent illustration of the influence our environments and communities can have on us. The film illustrated how psychological influences can cause kids to form opinions about the world around them.

Is it possible to separate emotion from scientific application to influence public opinion?

In my opinion, it is possible but challenging to separate emotion from scientific application. A variety of subject matter areas can be affected by emotions in terms of values. Public opinion is significantly influenced by emotions.

What ethical principles should be considered when merging history, psychology, and social issues?

The APA Code of Ethics provides direction for psychologists so that they are better prepared to know what to do when they face a moral or ethical challenge. A few of these are values or beliefs that psychologists ought to uphold. In psychology, ethics is a major issue, especially when it comes to therapy and research. Psychological research and working with patients might provide a number of ethical and moral dilemmas that need to be resolved. According to Principle E, psychologists must respect the rights of persons they work with professionally to dignity, privacy, and secrecy. They should work to reduce their own biases and be conscious of challenges with diversity and the needs of specific ethnicities.

Resources:

Administrator. (2016, February 2). Ethics Code: General Principles – IResearchNet. Psychology. https://psychology.iresearchnet.com/forensic-psychology/forensic-psychology-ethics/ethics-code-general-principles/

Dr. Maria Espinola. (2021, September 14). Psychology and Social Justice: Promoting Equity through Research, Practice and Mass Media [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piAOJXoePts

2. Respecting and upholding everyone’s rights is social justice’s main goal. To ensure that everyone has the same chances and rights to freedom, it also emphasizes concerns like inequality and works to find solutions for them. It also promotes the equitable distribution of resources within a community and nation. Social justice also ensures equity in access to jobs, housing, education, and health care. Numerous people regularly encounter exclusion from services or unjust treatment because of prejudice towards their ethnicity, gender, or status as indigenous persons. Examining and addressing the psychological issues that cause social injustices and inequality is the function of psychology in social justice. When creating ways to advance fairness, equality, and social justice, psychologists can help pinpoint the root causes of prejudice, discrimination, and systemic biases. By shedding light on the fundamental causes of social inequality and offering insights into useful measures for eliminating these inequalities, psychology plays a critical role in advancing social justice. (Merryweather, 2021).

Since both emotions and values frequently have an impact on how people will interpret and react to the information they have received, it may be difficult to separate them when trying to influence public opinion. Considering this, it is crucial that scientists present their research based solely on the facts; in other words, they must be objective in their conclusions and refrain from letting their own prejudices affect them. I believe it is crucial for psychologists to both apply universal principles and integrate history, psychology, and social issues. Even though the APA does not enforce these regulations, psychologists should keep them in mind when deciding to adopt a public position. The first rule is called Principle A “Beneficence and Nonmaleficence,” which states that psychologists should always try to protect the rights and welfare of individuals with whom they have personal ties while being aware that others might abuse their professional status. Principle E, “Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity,” is a further significant ethical principle. In essence, this means that the psychologist should appreciate distinctions in people regardless of their race, culture, age, or sexual orientation in addition to being aware of those differences. (Haeny, 2014).

References:

Haeny A. M. (2014). Ethical Considerations for Psychologists Taking a Public Stance on Controversial Issues: The Balance Between Personal             and Professional Life. Ethics & behavior, 24(4), 265-278. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2013.860030

Merryweather, J. (2021, October 25). WHY IS SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPORTANT? Retrieved from Hollows: https://www.hollows.org/au/blog/why-is-social-justice-important#:~:text=Social%20justice%20seeks%20solutions%20to,employment%2C%20education%2C%20and%20housing.

Morrill, Z. (2018, September 24). What Does Social Justice Really Mean for Psychologists? Retrieved from Mad In America: https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/09/social-justice-really-mean-psychologists/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CPsychologists’%20endorsement%20of%20social%20justice,adaptable%20individuals%2C%20who%20bear%20sol