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Saturday, May 30, 2015

Vignette 32: The Ghost of Internet Past

Dr. Roger Sterling is a training director at a doctoral-level training program.  The training program has rigorous admissions standards and has a prestigious reputation.  Pete Campbell is a second year student who has excelled academically.  As Pete is preparing for an off-campus pre-doctoral internship, Dr. Joan Holloway (faculty member) approaches Dr. Sterling about Pete.  Apparently, there are a number of internet sites that feature Pete as a soft-core pornography actor.  Dr. Holloway asks Dr. Sterling to prevent Pete from off-campus training experiences until the department can address the potential ethical and moral issues with Pete.

Dr. Sterling agrees to talk to Pete.  Pete openly admits that he was a soft-core pornography actor.  He is no longer in the industry.  He cannot pull down pictures of his past work because the pictures and videos are outside of his control.

What are the potential ethical and clinical issues for Dr. Sterling in this scenario?

Are there any “values” or moral issues for Dr. Sterling in dealing with Pete?

If you were Dr. Sterling, how would you feel about Pete going to off-campus training sites?

What are the career implications for Pete Campbell?

What recommendations would you make, if any, to Pete Campbell?

Are there any risk management suggestions for Dr. Sterling related to the training program?

If you were consulting with Dr. Sterling, how do your own professional, personal, and moral values influence your approach to the consultation?

Would you change your strategy or recommendations if the student were a woman?

Would you change your strategy or recommendations if the student, Pete, were involved in gay porn?

Would you change your strategy or recommendations if the student were involved in hard-core pornography in which he dominated women?