Ethical principles provide general guidelines for professional behavior. Unfortunately, these principles are not adequate for practical decision-making. One ethical principle which generates frequent consternation is that of avoiding dual relationships. Some models have been developed to address this problem, but they are typically general and not especially helpful when specific ethical dilemmas arise. The principle of avoiding dual relationships is briefly reviewed, and problems with the principle are noted. This article presents a specific decision-making model to avoid exploitive dual relationships; the model’s uses and limitations are critically examined.

Avoiding dual relationships is an ethical injunction which frequently generates dilemmas for psychologists. Ethical principles provide general guidelines for professional conduct, but often provide little or no specific guidance for practical decision-making. This article reviews the relevant literature and presents a specific decision- making model for avoiding exploitive dual relationships. Examples of its use and pertinent limitations are noted.

Professions use ethical principles ( Beauchamp & Childress, 1983) to develop ethics codes to guide the conduct of their members. All major mental health professional codes (American Psychological Association, 1990; National Association of Social Workers, 1979; American Psychiatric Association, 1986; American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 1985) contain a proscription against dual relationships.

Problems with dual relationships may be explained by role theory. Social roles contain inherent expectations about how a person in a particular role is to behave as well as the rights and obligations which pertain to that role. Role conflicts arise when the expectations attached to one role call for behavior which is incompatible with that of another role ( Kitchener, 1988).

A dual role relationship exists when an individual simultaneously or sequentially participates in two role categories ( Kitchener, 1986). Carroll, Schneider & Wesley (1985) concluded that a dual relationship exists when, in addition to the professional relationship, there is some other relationship with the individual: friend, family member, student or business partner.