UU150 Final: Principle 5
Principle 5
Show respect for others and for human dignity. Tolerance and acceptance of both the
individual person and their circumstances are important prerequisites for any helping
relationship. No person with whom you work should feel that they are being treated in a
condescending manner. All contact – and information from that contact – should be
conveyed with respect, privacy, and confidentiality. The exceptions to this rule are when an
individual agrees that sharing with others is appropriate or if the information gained puts
the individual or the community in danger. Please consult with your supervisor if faced with
this exception.
Principle 6
Understand your own personal biases and avoid imposing these biases on others. You must
be careful not to impose your personal biases on other people, or to attempt to influence or
prejudice a person’s views or beliefs. This might include criticism of others, disenchantment,
or strong value judgments that ask an individual to
deal with your own personal agenda. Everyone has personal opinions and biases, but they
should be stated with personal ownership and without pressuring or convincing another to
accept them.
Principle 7
Continue to behave appropriately when working with persons for whom you feel some
aversion. You may find that you are conversing with an individual for whom you feel some
antagonism, dislike, or other strong emotional reaction. In these cases one must consider
why the aversion is being experienced and carefully assess whether these feelings will
interfere with your role. If so, it is important to consult with your supervisor.
Principle 8
Act appropriately when working with persons for whom you feel attraction. During the
course of your involvement in a service placement, you may meet individuals for whom you
feel interest or even attraction... you may want this person to be your friend, date, or
companion. These dual relationships could compromise your helping role and should be
avoided.
Principle 9
Knowing and managing your emotional response while helping another is crucial to your
own well-being and to your ability to help. There may be times when statements that you
have made evoke emotionally charged responses from individuals, or the public ranging
from anger and irritation to grief and sorrow. Students engaged in helping roles must be
prepared to know how to handle and even control emotional reactions by learning to set
limits, accept but not absorb emotional output, and channel reactions. Occasionally, an
individual’s reaction may stimulate parallel feelings from your own experience. In these
instances, you must follow up and use personal resources of support to debrief... there is no
need to ‘tough it out’ on your own, and it will not make you look more competent if you do
so!
Principle 10
Take responsible action if you learn about illegal behaviour. If you hear an individual report
information that may have elements of behaviour that is illegal or potentially unethical, you
may confront the behaviour, pointing out the social norms and consequences in a manner
that suggests that you are not the person to judge the behaviour, but that there are clear
social norms and laws that one must abide by in a community or society. If the information
that has been shared implies a clear and present danger to others in the community, this
information should be shared with your supervisor to determine the appropriate course of
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Document Summary
Show respect for others and for human dignity. Tolerance and acceptance of both the individual person and their circumstances are important prerequisites for any helping relationship. No person with whom you work should feel that they are being treated in a condescending manner. All contact and information from that contact should be conveyed with respect, privacy, and confidentiality. The exceptions to this rule are when an individual agrees that sharing with others is appropriate or if the information gained puts the individual or the community in danger. Please consult with your supervisor if faced with this exception. Understand your own personal biases and avoid imposing these biases on others. You must be careful not to impose your personal biases on other people, or to attempt to influence or prejudice a person"s views or beliefs. This might include criticism of others, disenchantment, or strong value judgments that ask an individual to deal with your own personal agenda.
