Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-23-2022

Publication Source

Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology

Volume Number

29

Issue Number

1

First Page

49

Last Page

60

Publisher

Johns Hopkins University Press

ISSN

1071-6076

E-ISSN

1086-3303

Comments

Copyright © 2022 Johns Hopkins University Press

Abstract

We propose that accountability plays an implicit, important, and relatively unexamined role in psychiatry. People generally think of accountability as a relation in which one party is held accountable by another. In this paper, we examine accountability as a virtue, drawing on philosophy, psychiatry, and psychology to examine what it means to welcome being accountable in an excellent way that promotes flourishing. When people manifest accountability as a virtue, they are both responsive to others they owe a response, and they are responsible for their attitudes and actions in light of these relationships. Psychiatric treatment often aims to correct disordered forms of accountability, including difficulties with empathy and self-regulation. Both the process of treatment and the practice of professionalism depend on relationally responsible accountability. We examine accountability as an overlooked complement to healthy autonomy. Whereas acting autonomously in congruence with one’s values is characteristic of mental health, accountability that is interpersonally responsive and responsible is vital to successful treatment as well as professionalism in psychiatry. We review components of accountability and developmental aspects of the virtue; highlight the role of accountability in healthy functioning; and describe implications for psychiatric assessment, treatment, and professionalism. We aim to catalyze awareness of accountability as intrinsic to mental health care and human flourishing.

Keywords

Accountability, Virtue, Flourishing, Mental health, Autonomy

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