Assignment Problem: A psychologist should also weigh the pros and cons before speaking out on a controversial topic. If the pros outweigh the cons, then it may need to be considered. If the negatives outweigh the positives, then it appears best to not speak out over the issue. It is important to weigh if speaking out is worth the potential repercussions of it. Speaking out should not be something that a psychologist just acts on without deep thought and personal reflection.
There are reasons why a psychologist should avoid speaking out on controversial issues when their personal views do not align with the field's consensus. Speaking out on controversial issues could lead to harming others unintentionally depending on what the topic is. It could also lead to ethical issues with multiple relationships and conflicts of interest. It is better to be safe than to be sorry when it comes to maintaining the ethics code and speaking out on controversial issues.
There may be times when a psychologist does decide to speak publicly on a controversial issue. If this does occur, it is important to make sure that the issue is not outside of one's own competency. It is also important to let the public know that this is an opinion that may be different than those endorsed by the American Psychological Association. Although this is not the advisable choice of action there may be times when it is important for the psychologist to stand up for what they personally believe in. The key is making sure that if this occurs it adheres to the ethics code, the consequences have been weighed for speaking and that it does not reflect onto the field in a negative manner.
Is this view point correct and why?