Collegial EthicsCollegial Ethics

Michael Kuhar, Ph.D.Michael Kuhar, Ph.D.Yerkes National Primate Res. CenterYerkes National Primate Res. Center

and the Center for Ethics and the Center for Ethics of Emory Universityof Emory University

Collegial ethics Collegial ethics offers guidelines offers guidelines on how to support colleagues, on how to support colleagues, and how to be fair. This gives us and how to be fair. This gives us a better world.a better world.- - This is often ignored.This is often ignored.- No training in it!- No training in it!- People don’t know how to act - People don’t know how to act - Haven’t thought about it.- Haven’t thought about it.

Collegial Ethics: Working with Collegial Ethics: Working with OthersOthers

Many ChallengesMany Challenges

Situations where support Situations where support is neededis needed

Everyday hasslesEveryday hassles

Commission of error that has impact.Commission of error that has impact.

Failure to succeedFailure to succeed

Attack by otherAttack by other

An accusation of wrongdoingAn accusation of wrongdoing

Be supportive even if no obvious needBe supportive even if no obvious need

Topics Covered:Topics Covered:Definitions and meanings.Definitions and meanings.Do we need it?Do we need it?Avoiding it, games we play.Avoiding it, games we play.Evolved instinctsEvolved instinctsHow do we become supportive?How do we become supportive?Collegial skills and training.Collegial skills and training.Limitations of collegial ethics.Limitations of collegial ethics.

Do we need it?Do we need it?Little or no current training for it in existing Little or no current training for it in existing programs.programs.

It can be a positive counterbalance to It can be a positive counterbalance to existing training in ethics which can be existing training in ethics which can be accusatory.accusatory.

Impulse of “Don’t get involved” – Self Impulse of “Don’t get involved” – Self preservation not always best in long run.preservation not always best in long run.

Collegiality has been shown to be effective.Collegiality has been shown to be effective.

1. We are human1. We are humanWe sometimes react to others with We sometimes react to others with strong feelings and emotions. These strong feelings and emotions. These come from our evolved human come from our evolved human nature.nature.

But these strong feelings and But these strong feelings and emotions are not commandments for emotions are not commandments for actions.actions.

We can choose our actions to be We can choose our actions to be nondestructive and supportive. nondestructive and supportive.

Evolved But Inappropriate Evolved But Inappropriate InstinctsInstincts

Millions of years of Millions of years of evolution have evolution have provided us with provided us with automatic automatic responses to responses to promote survival.promote survival.

But, in today's But, in today's world, the world, the responses are not responses are not appropriate.appropriate.

Ancestral actions are no Ancestral actions are no longer useful or appropriate.longer useful or appropriate.

2. Speak with respect2. Speak with respect

Use language that is less Use language that is less judgmental, is benign, and infuses judgmental, is benign, and infuses respect of others around you.respect of others around you.

We may need to practice this.We may need to practice this.

3. First do no harm.3. First do no harm.

A version of the A version of the Hippocratic oath Hippocratic oath is to do no harm, is to do no harm, or as little harm or as little harm as possible.as possible.

We all want to We all want to be noble and be noble and healinghealing..

4. Leave the past in its place4. Leave the past in its place

““Detraction” is the destructive practice Detraction” is the destructive practice of bringing up the past in a way that it of bringing up the past in a way that it has a negative impact on others, has a negative impact on others, even though the past is not having even though the past is not having any impact in the present.any impact in the present.

People have a right to start over.People have a right to start over.

People are not “defined” by a single People are not “defined” by a single act.act.

5. Be prudent, AND brave5. Be prudent, AND braveCourage is often Courage is often needed to needed to support others. support others. It can be It can be developed.developed.

Can be many Can be many reasons to avoid reasons to avoid supporting supporting others.others.

But, much good But, much good can come of it.can come of it.

Avoidance GamesAvoidance Games

Self-righteous judgment.Self-righteous judgment.

Say that it’s smart to avoid Say that it’s smart to avoid trouble.trouble.

Invoking excessive fairness.Invoking excessive fairness.

Can’t endanger my familyCan’t endanger my family

Avoidance Games, cont’dAvoidance Games, cont’d

Allow dislike of someone to overly Allow dislike of someone to overly influence your actions.influence your actions.

A Genuine paralyzing fear of actionsA Genuine paralyzing fear of actions

Mange fear and avoidance by focusing Mange fear and avoidance by focusing on the good that can come of your on the good that can come of your actions.actions.

Sometimes it is prudent not to be Sometimes it is prudent not to be invovled.invovled.

6. Give credit where due6. Give credit where due

Giving credit Giving credit when it is when it is deserved is a deserved is a strong strong relationship relationship builder.builder.

7. Time is needed7. Time is needed

Collegial ethics requires skills.Collegial ethics requires skills.

Devote time to develop them.Devote time to develop them.

We can learn and change.We can learn and change.

Look for a method or plan or Look for a method or plan or program to develop need habits program to develop need habits and skills.and skills.

8. Show the way8. Show the wayBe a mentor.Be a mentor.

When you find When you find something that something that works, share it.works, share it.

People respect People respect mentors who mentors who act according act according to their beliefs.to their beliefs.

Develop a collegial attitudeDevelop a collegial attitude

If help is risky for someone, evaluate it If help is risky for someone, evaluate it carefully. Will my actions cause more harm carefully. Will my actions cause more harm to someone? BOTH judgment and courage to someone? BOTH judgment and courage are needed.are needed.

Don’t forget about yourself.Don’t forget about yourself.

Don’t forget to focus on the good that will Don’t forget to focus on the good that will follow from my actions as well as on the follow from my actions as well as on the risks.risks.

Get collegial training. It works.Get collegial training. It works.

Collegial Ethics Training.Collegial Ethics Training.Organize material (into a course). Organize material (into a course).

Read guidelines and cases in discussion Read guidelines and cases in discussion groups.groups.

Write new cases that are examined and Write new cases that are examined and discussed by colleagues.discussed by colleagues.

Practice collegial actions.Practice collegial actions.

Review and revisit the material.Review and revisit the material.

Teach collegial ethics to mentees.Teach collegial ethics to mentees.

Limitations of Collegial EthicsLimitations of Collegial Ethics

Uninterested colleagues – how do Uninterested colleagues – how do we handle them?we handle them?

Limitations in availability of Limitations in availability of training.training.

Follow-upFollow-up

This lecture is only a brief overview.This lecture is only a brief overview.

Kuhar, MJ. The Art and Ethics of Being a Kuhar, MJ. The Art and Ethics of Being a Good Colleague. Create Space Platform. Good Colleague. Create Space Platform. 2012.2012.

Also, see the website: Also, see the website: www.www.collegialethics.com/. .

Lecture composed Feb 2015Lecture composed Feb 2015..