Arnold A. Lazarus’s scientific contributions

Psychologists regularly struggle with boundary issues and multiple relationships. Knowing which boundary crossings are acceptable, when a behavior becomes a boundary violation, and which multiple relationships are acceptable and which are not can present great challenges for practicing psychologists. Furthermore, for those who work with diverse populations, these challenges may become even more pronounced. A rational approach to addressing boundaries and multiple relationships is presented along with 4 expert commentaries that further elucidate these issues. Special attention is paid to the role of culture and other diversity factors as they affect how psychologists address boundaries and multiple relationships. Recommendations for ethical and effective practice that incorporate rational decision making and attention to individual differences are made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)