Final answer:
The Virtue Ethics Model by Jordan and Meara focuses on the personal virtues of counselors, emphasizing the development of good character over adherence to specific actions. It is part of a broader ethical framework that considers the complexities of moral life and the importance of cultivating virtuous dispositions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jordan and Meara's Virtue Ethics Model aligns with the broader concept of virtue ethics, which is a character-centered approach to morality. Unlike consequentialism, which focuses on outcomes, and deontology, which is concerned with adherence to rules or duties, virtue ethics emphasizes the cultivation of good character traits. According to this perspective, being a moral individual is less about what one does in specific situations and more about the kind of person one strives to be. Counselors and therapists who apply this model focus on personal virtues such as empathy, integrity, and compassion, which guide their conduct and interactions with clients.
In the context of normative ethical theory, virtue ethics provides a framework that is more aligned with the human experience, according to theorists like Sir William David Ross. It acknowledges the complexity of moral life and suggests that our character deeply influences our ethical choices. Cultivation of the right character traits, self-reflection, and aiming for self-perfection are viewed as crucial to moral development.
In summary, Jordan and Meara's model advocates that counselors should focus not on specific actions they must take but on who they should be — advocating for the importance of virtuous dispositions in ethical deliberation and practice.