EPPP Ethics and Professional Issues
Questions and Answers.
Animals in Research -
\Standard 8.09 requires psychologists to 'acquire, care for, use, and dispose of animals
in compliance with current federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and with
professional standards' and 'to make reaosnable efforts to minimize the discomfort,
infeciton, illness, and pain of animal subjects.' It also states that, 'when it is appropriate
that an animal's life be terminated, psychologists proceed rapidly, with an effort to
minimize pzin and in accordance with accepted procedures.'
Collection Agencies -
\Standard 6.04 states that 'if the recipient of services does not pay for services as
agreed, and if psychologists intend to use collection agencies or legal measures to
collect the fees, psychologists first inform the person that such measures will be taken
and provide that person an opportunity to make prompt payment.'
Education and Supervision -
\Standards 7.01 through 7.06 address THIS and require psychologists to act
competently and responsibly when teaching, supervising, and designing education and
training programs and to avoid misrepresenting themselves or their work when
performing these functions.
Informed Consent and Assent -
\Standard 3.10 states that 'when psychologists conduct research or provide
assessment, therapy, counselling, or consulting services in person or via electronic
transmission or other forms of communication, they obtain the THIS of the individual or
individuals using language that is reasonably understandable to that person or persons.'
It also states that 'for persons who are legally incapable of giving THIS, psychologists
nevertheless (1) provide an appropriate explanation, (2) seek the individual's assent, (3)
consider such person's preferences and best interests, and (4) obtain appropriate
permission from a legally authorized person.'
Personal Problems -
\Standard 2.06 states: '(a) psychologists refrain from initiating an activity when they now
or should know that there is a substantial likelihood that their THIS will prevent them
from performing their work-related activities in a competent manner...[and] (b) when
psychologists become aware of THIS that may interfere with their performing work-
related duties adequately, they take appropriate measures, such as obtaining
professional consultation or assistance, and determine wither they should limit,
suspend, or terminate their work-related duties.
Sexual Misconduct by Psychotherapists -
, \Research on THIS has found that male therapists engage in sexual and other dual
relationships with clients much more often than female therapists. The data also show
that male therapists who engage in sexual misconduct are usually older than the female
clients they become involved with, with the average therapist being between 42 and 44
and the client being between 30 and 33. No consistent relationship has been found
between risk for sexual misconduct and theoretical orientation, professional experience,
or education (Pope et al., 1993).
Avoiding Bias in Language -
\The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association provides guidelines
for THIS related to race/ethnicity, gender, age, and sexual orientation. For example, it
recommends putting 'people first (e.g., 'clients with a disability' rather than 'disabled
clients'); being specific when referring to race and avoiding using Whites as a
comparison group; and using emotionally neutral terms (e.g., 'people with a disease'
rather than 'people afflicted by a disease').
Competence -
\Standard 2.01 requires psychologists to 'provide services, teach, and conduct research
with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their THIS based on their
education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional
experience.'
EPPP -
\THIS is a requirement for licensure in the United States and Canada. It is prepared by
the Association of the State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and is
designed to assist the boards 'in their evaluation of the qualifications of applicants for
licensure and certification' by assessing 'the knowledge that the most recent practice
analysis has determined as foundational to the competent practice of psychology'
(ASPPB, 2010).
Informed Consent for Research -
\Standard 8.02 states: '(a) when obtaining informed consent..., psychologists inform
participants about (1) the purpose of the research, expected duration, and procedures;
(2) their right to decline to participate and to withdraw from the research once
participation has begun; (3) the foreseeable consequences of declining or withdrawing;
(4) reasonably foreseeable factors that may be expected to influence their willingness to
participate such as potential risks, discomfort, or adverse effects; (5) any prospective
research benefits; (6) limits of confidentiality; (7) incentives for participation; and (8)
whom to contact for questions about the research and research participants' rights.'
Privilege and Holder of the Privilege -
\THIS IS A legal concept that protects a client's confidentiality in the context of legal
proceedings. Most jurisdictions have laws that establish privilege for communications
between licensed mental health practitioners and their clients. The client is ordinarily the
'holder of the privilege,' but a psychologist can claim the privilege on behalf of the client,
and there are legally defined expectations to privilege.
Questions and Answers.
Animals in Research -
\Standard 8.09 requires psychologists to 'acquire, care for, use, and dispose of animals
in compliance with current federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and with
professional standards' and 'to make reaosnable efforts to minimize the discomfort,
infeciton, illness, and pain of animal subjects.' It also states that, 'when it is appropriate
that an animal's life be terminated, psychologists proceed rapidly, with an effort to
minimize pzin and in accordance with accepted procedures.'
Collection Agencies -
\Standard 6.04 states that 'if the recipient of services does not pay for services as
agreed, and if psychologists intend to use collection agencies or legal measures to
collect the fees, psychologists first inform the person that such measures will be taken
and provide that person an opportunity to make prompt payment.'
Education and Supervision -
\Standards 7.01 through 7.06 address THIS and require psychologists to act
competently and responsibly when teaching, supervising, and designing education and
training programs and to avoid misrepresenting themselves or their work when
performing these functions.
Informed Consent and Assent -
\Standard 3.10 states that 'when psychologists conduct research or provide
assessment, therapy, counselling, or consulting services in person or via electronic
transmission or other forms of communication, they obtain the THIS of the individual or
individuals using language that is reasonably understandable to that person or persons.'
It also states that 'for persons who are legally incapable of giving THIS, psychologists
nevertheless (1) provide an appropriate explanation, (2) seek the individual's assent, (3)
consider such person's preferences and best interests, and (4) obtain appropriate
permission from a legally authorized person.'
Personal Problems -
\Standard 2.06 states: '(a) psychologists refrain from initiating an activity when they now
or should know that there is a substantial likelihood that their THIS will prevent them
from performing their work-related activities in a competent manner...[and] (b) when
psychologists become aware of THIS that may interfere with their performing work-
related duties adequately, they take appropriate measures, such as obtaining
professional consultation or assistance, and determine wither they should limit,
suspend, or terminate their work-related duties.
Sexual Misconduct by Psychotherapists -
, \Research on THIS has found that male therapists engage in sexual and other dual
relationships with clients much more often than female therapists. The data also show
that male therapists who engage in sexual misconduct are usually older than the female
clients they become involved with, with the average therapist being between 42 and 44
and the client being between 30 and 33. No consistent relationship has been found
between risk for sexual misconduct and theoretical orientation, professional experience,
or education (Pope et al., 1993).
Avoiding Bias in Language -
\The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association provides guidelines
for THIS related to race/ethnicity, gender, age, and sexual orientation. For example, it
recommends putting 'people first (e.g., 'clients with a disability' rather than 'disabled
clients'); being specific when referring to race and avoiding using Whites as a
comparison group; and using emotionally neutral terms (e.g., 'people with a disease'
rather than 'people afflicted by a disease').
Competence -
\Standard 2.01 requires psychologists to 'provide services, teach, and conduct research
with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their THIS based on their
education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional
experience.'
EPPP -
\THIS is a requirement for licensure in the United States and Canada. It is prepared by
the Association of the State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and is
designed to assist the boards 'in their evaluation of the qualifications of applicants for
licensure and certification' by assessing 'the knowledge that the most recent practice
analysis has determined as foundational to the competent practice of psychology'
(ASPPB, 2010).
Informed Consent for Research -
\Standard 8.02 states: '(a) when obtaining informed consent..., psychologists inform
participants about (1) the purpose of the research, expected duration, and procedures;
(2) their right to decline to participate and to withdraw from the research once
participation has begun; (3) the foreseeable consequences of declining or withdrawing;
(4) reasonably foreseeable factors that may be expected to influence their willingness to
participate such as potential risks, discomfort, or adverse effects; (5) any prospective
research benefits; (6) limits of confidentiality; (7) incentives for participation; and (8)
whom to contact for questions about the research and research participants' rights.'
Privilege and Holder of the Privilege -
\THIS IS A legal concept that protects a client's confidentiality in the context of legal
proceedings. Most jurisdictions have laws that establish privilege for communications
between licensed mental health practitioners and their clients. The client is ordinarily the
'holder of the privilege,' but a psychologist can claim the privilege on behalf of the client,
and there are legally defined expectations to privilege.
