Dual Relationships and Boundaries in Adolescents Essay

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Adolescent is the stage in life where both teenage male and female experience drastic changes in their body both physically and emotionally. During this period, the teenager may fall into temptation especially if they are not advised about the changes likely to occur in their body. A dual relationship is a situation whereby one is involved in two relationships with different persons at the same time (Reamer, 2012). This could be dangerous especially to a teenager who does not have any knowledge concerning relationships and also because she does not understand herself well in terms of physical and emotional changes.

There are several ethical issues presented by dual relationships. To begin with, there is risk of harm both emotionally and psychologically for the teenager due her innocence in coping with matters related to relationships. For instance, the teenager could be exploited sexually by the parties she is dealing with because they may only be after self satisfaction after which they do away with the teenager. Additionally, there could be risk of exploitation for the teenage girl by the person she is involved with (Maness, 2007).

This means that as a result of body changes, the teenager may overreact and in the process be taken advantage of by the person she is involved with. This in itself is exploitation since the teenager does the things that are out her control. In addition, injustice which means treating a person in a manner that is not right or against their wish may befall the teenager. This is because it could be unjust to treat the teenager in a manner that would suggest that you are being unfair or unjust to the teenager (Sanders & Malony, 1997).

Ethical standards for example reasonable judgment and behavior should be taken into account before making any ethical decision so as to avoid regrets in future. Another issue presented by dual relationship is lack of self esteem by the teenager. This is as a result of engaging in different relationships which may mean that she is not capable of taking control of her feelings and emotions. This in turn could make the teenager lose self esteem as a result of lack of concrete judgments concerning anything about her.Additionally, another ethical issue that comes out in dual relationship is lack of commitment to both the parties that the teenager is engaged with.

It is clear that one cannot serve two masters which mean that it is not possible to serve two people and make them happy at the same time. Further, the dishonesty comes out clearly in dual relationships due to the fact that the teenage is involved with two persons at the same time. This means that she is not honest to any of them or to herself.Further, the dishonesty brings about the feeling of guilt which may further cause low self esteem.

Most ethical solutions in the selected scenario include educating the teenager of the problems associated with dual relationships. It could be better if this was introduced to schools so as to educate the teenagers on the dangers of dual relationships (Sanders & Malony, 1997). Further, there should be a heavy penalty to those who are found in relationships with a teenager. In rare cases where a teenager is in a relationship with other teenager they should be involved in a relationship that is useful to both.

This means that the relationship should be positive and not intimate or directed to any personal gain. Another solution could be bringing up the teenagers in a Christian background where honesty and other virtues are emphasized from an early stage in life. This could prevent dishonesty and therefore transparency could prevail and therefore low chances of teenage involvement in dual relationships.

References

Maness, P. J. (2007). Teaching psychologists perceptions on the ethics of dual relationships.

Reamer, F. G., & Reamer, F. G. (2012). Boundary issues and dual relationships in the human services. New York: Columbia University Press.

Sanders, R. K., & Malony, H. N. (1997). Christian counseling ethics: A handbook for therapists, pastors & counselors. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press.

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