ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how ethics can be learned, the preconditions and mechanisms underpinning adult ethical development, awareness and decision-making, professional development practices and ethics in coach education. James Rest found that young adults experience major changes to their capacity to problem-solve to deal with ethical dilemmas, and that this was linked to how they perceive society and their role in society. Professional development is a process of engaging in a range of activities as a way to learn, develop and refine skills and proficiency. Adult educational needs are different to those of children. Ethical development/maturity is firstly about understanding the importance of ethics across all life domains and particularly the personal and professional. Life experiences and professional practice bring with them uncertainty about what is a ‘right’ action. Reflection requires questioning with a critical lens that prioritises ethics, enabling coaches to anticipate issues, to understand past issues and to learn from positive and negative experiences.
