Konstanz Method of Dilemma-Discussion (KMDD®) an its application in the process of ethical education of psychologists

Abstract

Psychologist are the representatives of a profession in which a wellbeing of a person is the paramount. Helping activity requires of psychologists to follow not only professional ethics but also moral norms. Not rarely do psychologists face the necessity to consider moral dilemmas connected with the practice of delivering psychological services. In such cases, a psychologist should be able to use not only professional knowledge, but also a moral competency allowing him or her to put in practice the assumptions of autonomous morality which is in agreement with his or her personal and professional identity. It is hard to find formal programs of stimulation of moral competence dedicated directly for psychologists. However, there is a possibility of using Konstanz Method of Dilemma-Discussion (KMDD®) in order to achieve this goal. Konstanz Method of Dilemma-Discussion developed by professor Georg Lind from the University of Konstanz – a student and a critic of L. Kohlberg – is used in many countries all over the world in order to increase the level of moral development by developing moral competency mainly in the area of education. An increasing interest of researchers in the method also results in searching for new possibilities of applications of the method. An example of such application would be an area of psychologists’ work. The article aims to promote the KMDD® method in the course of ethical and professional education and self-development of psychologists.