ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE TREATMENT OF COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION - A SURVEY OF COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONAL

This study assessed the understanding and application of ethical decis ion making principles by communication professionals in the treatment of communication apprehension (CAA). Data collected from 342 communica tion professionals suggested that professionals teach and practice wit h a high level of implicit ethical standards. Consistent with research in the psychotherapy field, it was found that communication professio nals hold the highest standards in terms of what they believe they sho uld do in comparison to what they believe they and other professionals would do when faced with particular ethical conflict situations. In a ddition, it was found that communication professionals discriminate am ong areas of ethical responsibility, generally holding the highest lev el of ethical response to informed consent issues as compared to compe tence limits and advertising practices issues. Communication professio nals also hold high levels of ethical response to the intervention of CAA when utilizing therapeutic (as compared to instructional) methods, and when working within a private practice (as compared to classroom) context. A preliminary set of ethical guidelines in the treatment of CAA is presented.