PS311 Unit 2 Ethical Theory Application Example

Course	PS311 Ethical Practice in a Diverse World
Unit	Unit 2
Paper type	Ethical theory application
Length	About 580 words, 5 pages double-spaced
Format	APA 7 student paper
School	Purdue University Global
Program	BS in Psychology
Updated	October 2026

Free sample paper for PS311 Unit 2

One Relapse, Four Theories: A PS311 Unit 2 Ethical Theory Application

[Student Name]

Purdue University Global

PS311: Ethical Practice in a Diverse World

Unit 2 Ethical Theory Application

[Instructor Name]

[Date]

The client, the trainee and the program are composite; the theories and sources cited are real.

What this part is doingStating that the theories converge on one answer for different reasons in the lead gives the paper its argument.

The Case

Mr. D., 46, attends an outpatient recovery program as a condition of probation. Under the release he signed, his probation officer may receive two things from the program: whether he attended and what his urine screens showed. On a Saturday he texts Elena, a case manager trainee, that he used drugs on Friday, asks her not to tell his officer and promises to attend group on Monday. A colleague advises deleting the text.

Consequentialism

A consequentialist asks which action produces the best overall outcomes. Reporting the relapse directly to the officer might lead to jail and end treatment, a poor outcome for Mr. D. and possibly for public safety if untreated addiction continues. Deleting the text protects him in the short run but risks the program's credibility with the court, which could harm many future clients. The option most likely to produce good outcomes for everyone is encouraging Mr. D. to disclose himself, while the program shares only what his consent covers, a positive drug test if one occurs.

Deontology

A deontologist asks which duties apply, regardless of outcomes. Elena has a duty of honesty and a duty to keep promises, including the program's agreement with the court, as well as a duty of confidentiality to the client. Deleting the text would violate honesty and the integrity of records. Volunteering information beyond the consent would violate confidentiality. Respecting both duties means neither deleting nor disclosing beyond the consent.

Deleting the text failed every theory; disclosing beyond the consent failed most of them.

Virtue Ethics

For the virtue ethicist, the test is what an honest, caring and dependable case manager would do in Elena's place. A good case manager would be honest, compassionate and trustworthy. Compassion argues for supporting Mr. D. through a frightening moment, honesty for refusing to hide records, and trustworthiness for keeping faith with both the client and the program's commitments. Encouraging him to speak with his officer, and staying with him through it, expresses all three.

What this part is doingShowing each virtue pointing toward the same action demonstrates application rather than definition.

Principlism

Beauchamp and Childress (2019) organize ethical reasoning around four principles, which Kitchener (1984) brought into counseling psychology with a fifth, fidelity, the duty to keep faith with commitments. Autonomy favors respecting Mr. D.'s choices and his consent agreement. Beneficence favors keeping him in treatment. Nonmaleficence warns against actions that could harm him, such as unauthorized disclosure. Justice asks that he be treated as other clients in the same situation would be. Autonomy and beneficence pull slightly apart, since respecting his request not to tell might seem kind, but his signed consent is itself an exercise of autonomy that he agreed to when entering treatment.

Where the Theories Agree and Differ

All four theories reject deleting the text and favor encouraging self-disclosure within the consent. They differ in their reasons: outcomes for the consequentialist, duties for the deontologist, character for the virtue ethicist and balanced principles for principlism. Corey et al. (2019) note that such convergence is common and gives a decision more confidence than any single theory would.

Decision

Elena should keep the message, tell her supervisor, urge Mr. D. to break the news to his officer in his own words and document the contact and her actions in his record.

What this part is doingEnding with a concrete decision and a documentation step shows the theories were used to act, not only to analyze.

References

Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Corey, C. (2019). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Kitchener, K. S. (1984). Intuition, critical evaluation and ethical principles: The foundation for ethical decisions in counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 12(3), 43-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000084123005

Reading the PS 311 Unit 2 instructions

Unit 2 in PS311 typically asks you to apply ethical theories such as consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics and principlism to one case. Describe the case first, including any agreements or consents that shape it. Apply each theory separately, showing how it frames the problem and what it recommends, rather than defining it in general. Identify where the theories agree and where they differ, noting that agreement on an action can rest on different reasons. Address tensions within a theory, such as autonomy against beneficence. Reach a decision and explain which considerations carried the most weight. Cite primary or authoritative sources on each theory, and make sure the decision includes practical steps such as consultation and documentation.

Inside the PS311 Unit 2 example

The paper describes Mr. D., his probation consent and his Saturday text. The consequentialist section compares outcomes of reporting, deleting and encouraging disclosure. The deontological section weighs honesty, promise-keeping and confidentiality, under a highlighted line that deleting failed every theory. Virtue ethics shows compassion, honesty and trustworthiness pointing to the same action. Principlism applies Beauchamp and Childress's four principles and Kitchener's fidelity, and notes that the signed consent is itself an act of autonomy. A comparison section credits convergence for different reasons, citing Corey and colleagues, and the decision lists keeping the message, consulting, encouraging disclosure and documenting. Each theory section ends with the action it recommends, so the comparison can be read across the four.

Where the points sit in the PS311 Unit 2 rubric

Theory applications earn credit for accurate theory and genuine application. Instructors look for each theory used to analyze the specific case, with its recommendation stated, rather than four definitions followed by a short decision. Recognizing tensions within principlism, such as autonomy and beneficence, shows depth. Noting where theories converge and diverge demonstrates comparative thinking. A clear decision with practical steps, including consultation and documentation, connects theory to practice. Authoritative sources such as Beauchamp and Childress, cited correctly, are expected. Strong papers also explain why the consent agreement changes the analysis, since it is the fact that most shapes the outcome. Showing how a single fact, the signed release, shifts several theories at once is a mark of careful analysis.

Common PS311 Unit 2 mistakes, and how to avoid them

Many papers define each theory at length and add the case only at the end. Another common slip treats principlism as a list to recite rather than principles to weigh against each other. Students often conclude that the theories disagree when they actually recommend the same action for different reasons. Decisions sometimes stop at an abstract choice, such as respecting autonomy, without saying what the professional should actually do. Practical steps are frequently omitted. Before submitting, check that each theory section ends with a recommendation for this case, name one tension between principles, state your decision as an action and add consultation and documentation. Following those steps keeps the theories working on the case.

Get a PS311 Unit 2 example written to your instructions

Share the case and the instructions with the rubric. A custom paper applies each theory and shows where they agree and differ. Turnaround is 24-48h, free the first time. The paper above is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Purdue University Global document.

More PS311 papers and BS in Psychology samples

PS311 Unit 2 questions, answered

What is principlism?

An approach built on autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice.

Do theories always disagree?

Often they agree on the outcome but for different reasons.

Should the paper choose a theory?

It should reach a decision and explain which considerations carried the most weight.

Where can I find a free PS311 Unit 2 sample paper?

The full PS311 Unit 2 paper is on this page, applying four ethical theories to a composite probation client's relapse text.

Do the theories disagree in the PS311 Unit 2 sample?

They agree on the action, encouraging self-disclosure within the consent, but for different reasons.