- psychologists with a positive approach to ethics
American Psychological Association
will strive to become as competent as possible
- published its first code of ethics in 1953 - (e.g., additional courses, extra supervision, self-
- Nine revised editions of the ethical code have been study, self-care)
published, including the most recent edition
published in 2002
- Some of its guidelines are especially relevant to the American Psychological Association’s General Ethical
most common professional activities of clinical Principles
psychologists, such as therapy, assessment,
research, and teaching 1. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
- “Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom
they work and take care to do no harm.”
Aspirational and Enforceable - This includes the clients they see in clinical
practice, animals that are involved in research
The current American Psychological Association (2002)
and experiments, and anyone else with whom they
ethical code features two distinct sections:
engage in professional interaction.
• General Principles
- section are aspirational 2. Fidelity and Responsibility
- describe an ideal level of ethical functioning or how - “Psychologists establish relationships of trust
psychologists should strive to conduct themselves with those with whom they work. they are aware of
- They don’t include specific definitions of ethical their professional and scientific responsibilities to
violations; instead, they offer more broad society and to the specific communities in which
descriptions of exemplary ethical behavior. they work.”
- This principle suggests that psychologists should
• Ethical Standards participate in activities that enhance the ethical
- section of the ethical code includes enforceable compliance and conduct of their colleagues.
rules of conduct. - Serving as a mentor, taking part in peer review,
- are written broadly enough to cover the great range and pointing out ethical concerns or misconduct
of activities in which psychologists engage, but are examples of how this principle might be put
they are nonetheless more specific than the into action. Psychologists are also encouraged to
general principles. donate some of their time to the betterment of the
- are divided into 10 categories which include 89 community.
individual standards.
3. Integrity
- “Psychologists seek to promote accuracy,
Knapp and VandeCreek (2006) describe two approaches to honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching,
ethics: and practice of psychology.”
• Remedial Approach - In research and practice, psychologists should
- involve doing just enough to avoid any trouble that never attempt to deceive or misrepresent. For
might come from a violation of ethical standards instance, in research, deception can involve
- Psychologists with a remedial approach to ethics fabricating or manipulating results in some way to
might do the bare minimum to make themselves achieve desired outcomes. Psychologists should
competent for a particular activity (e.g., taking also strive for transparency and honesty in their
courses, getting supervision) practice.
• Positive Approach 4. Justice
- involve making every effort to ensure that one’s - “Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice
professional behavior was as consistent with entitle all persons to access and benefit from the
ethical principles as possible contributions of psychology and to equal quality in
, the processes, procedures, and services being - This includes guidelines for dealing with sexual
conducted by psychologists.” harassment, and discrimination, avoiding harm
- Mental health professionals have a responsibility during treatment and avoiding exploitative
to be fair and impartial. It also states that people relationships (such as a sexual relationship with a
have a right to access and benefit from advances student or subordinate).
that have been made in the field of psychology. It is
important for psychologists to treat people equally. 4. Privacy and Confidentiality
- This standard outlines psychologists’
5. Respect for People’s Right and Dignity responsibilities in maintaining patient
- “Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all confidentiality. Psychologists are obligated to take
people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, reasonable precautions to keep client information
confidentiality, and self-determination.” private.
- Psychologists should respect the right to dignity, - However, the APA also notes that there are
privacy, and confidentiality of those they work with limitations to confidentiality. Sometimes
professionally. They should also strive to minimize psychologists need to disclose information about
their own biases as well as be aware of issues their patients in order to consult with other mental
related to diversity and the concerns of particular health professionals, for example.
populations. - In cases where information must be divulged,
- For example, people may have specific concerns psychologists must strive to minimize these
related to their age, socioeconomic status, race, intrusions on privacy and confidentiality.
gender, religion, ethnicity, or disability.
5. Advertising and Other Public Statements
- Psychologists who advertise their services must
Categories of American Psychological Association
ensure that they accurately depict their training,
Ethical Standards
experience, and expertise. They also need to avoid
1. Resolving Ethical Issues marketing statements that are deceptive or false.
- This standard of the APA ethics code provides - This also applies to how psychologists are
information about what psychologists should do to portrayed by the media when providing their
resolve ethical situations they may encounter in expertise or opinion in articles, blogs, books, or
their work. This includes advice for what television programs.
researchers should do when their work is - When presenting at conferences or giving
misrepresented and when to report ethical workshops, psychologists should also ensure that
violations. the brochures and other marketing materials for
the event accurately depict what the event will
2. Competence cover.
- Psychologists must practice within their areas of
expertise. When treating clients or working with the 6. Record Keeping and Fees
public, psychologists must make clear what they - Maintaining accurate records is an important part
are and are not trained to do. of a psychologist’s work, whether the individual is
working in research or with patients. Patient
An Exception to This Standard: records include case notes and other diagnostic
This standard stipulates that in an emergency situation, assessments used in the course of treatment.
professionals may provide services even if it falls - In terms of research, record-keeping involves
outside the scope of their practice in order to ensure detailing how studies were performed and the
that access to services is provided. procedures that were used. This allows other
researchers to assess the research and ensures
3. Human Relations that the study can be replicated.
- Psychologists frequently work with a team of
other mental health professionals. This standard of
the ethics code is designed to guide psychologists
in their interactions with others in the field.
American Psychological Association
will strive to become as competent as possible
- published its first code of ethics in 1953 - (e.g., additional courses, extra supervision, self-
- Nine revised editions of the ethical code have been study, self-care)
published, including the most recent edition
published in 2002
- Some of its guidelines are especially relevant to the American Psychological Association’s General Ethical
most common professional activities of clinical Principles
psychologists, such as therapy, assessment,
research, and teaching 1. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
- “Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom
they work and take care to do no harm.”
Aspirational and Enforceable - This includes the clients they see in clinical
practice, animals that are involved in research
The current American Psychological Association (2002)
and experiments, and anyone else with whom they
ethical code features two distinct sections:
engage in professional interaction.
• General Principles
- section are aspirational 2. Fidelity and Responsibility
- describe an ideal level of ethical functioning or how - “Psychologists establish relationships of trust
psychologists should strive to conduct themselves with those with whom they work. they are aware of
- They don’t include specific definitions of ethical their professional and scientific responsibilities to
violations; instead, they offer more broad society and to the specific communities in which
descriptions of exemplary ethical behavior. they work.”
- This principle suggests that psychologists should
• Ethical Standards participate in activities that enhance the ethical
- section of the ethical code includes enforceable compliance and conduct of their colleagues.
rules of conduct. - Serving as a mentor, taking part in peer review,
- are written broadly enough to cover the great range and pointing out ethical concerns or misconduct
of activities in which psychologists engage, but are examples of how this principle might be put
they are nonetheless more specific than the into action. Psychologists are also encouraged to
general principles. donate some of their time to the betterment of the
- are divided into 10 categories which include 89 community.
individual standards.
3. Integrity
- “Psychologists seek to promote accuracy,
Knapp and VandeCreek (2006) describe two approaches to honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching,
ethics: and practice of psychology.”
• Remedial Approach - In research and practice, psychologists should
- involve doing just enough to avoid any trouble that never attempt to deceive or misrepresent. For
might come from a violation of ethical standards instance, in research, deception can involve
- Psychologists with a remedial approach to ethics fabricating or manipulating results in some way to
might do the bare minimum to make themselves achieve desired outcomes. Psychologists should
competent for a particular activity (e.g., taking also strive for transparency and honesty in their
courses, getting supervision) practice.
• Positive Approach 4. Justice
- involve making every effort to ensure that one’s - “Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice
professional behavior was as consistent with entitle all persons to access and benefit from the
ethical principles as possible contributions of psychology and to equal quality in
, the processes, procedures, and services being - This includes guidelines for dealing with sexual
conducted by psychologists.” harassment, and discrimination, avoiding harm
- Mental health professionals have a responsibility during treatment and avoiding exploitative
to be fair and impartial. It also states that people relationships (such as a sexual relationship with a
have a right to access and benefit from advances student or subordinate).
that have been made in the field of psychology. It is
important for psychologists to treat people equally. 4. Privacy and Confidentiality
- This standard outlines psychologists’
5. Respect for People’s Right and Dignity responsibilities in maintaining patient
- “Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all confidentiality. Psychologists are obligated to take
people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, reasonable precautions to keep client information
confidentiality, and self-determination.” private.
- Psychologists should respect the right to dignity, - However, the APA also notes that there are
privacy, and confidentiality of those they work with limitations to confidentiality. Sometimes
professionally. They should also strive to minimize psychologists need to disclose information about
their own biases as well as be aware of issues their patients in order to consult with other mental
related to diversity and the concerns of particular health professionals, for example.
populations. - In cases where information must be divulged,
- For example, people may have specific concerns psychologists must strive to minimize these
related to their age, socioeconomic status, race, intrusions on privacy and confidentiality.
gender, religion, ethnicity, or disability.
5. Advertising and Other Public Statements
- Psychologists who advertise their services must
Categories of American Psychological Association
ensure that they accurately depict their training,
Ethical Standards
experience, and expertise. They also need to avoid
1. Resolving Ethical Issues marketing statements that are deceptive or false.
- This standard of the APA ethics code provides - This also applies to how psychologists are
information about what psychologists should do to portrayed by the media when providing their
resolve ethical situations they may encounter in expertise or opinion in articles, blogs, books, or
their work. This includes advice for what television programs.
researchers should do when their work is - When presenting at conferences or giving
misrepresented and when to report ethical workshops, psychologists should also ensure that
violations. the brochures and other marketing materials for
the event accurately depict what the event will
2. Competence cover.
- Psychologists must practice within their areas of
expertise. When treating clients or working with the 6. Record Keeping and Fees
public, psychologists must make clear what they - Maintaining accurate records is an important part
are and are not trained to do. of a psychologist’s work, whether the individual is
working in research or with patients. Patient
An Exception to This Standard: records include case notes and other diagnostic
This standard stipulates that in an emergency situation, assessments used in the course of treatment.
professionals may provide services even if it falls - In terms of research, record-keeping involves
outside the scope of their practice in order to ensure detailing how studies were performed and the
that access to services is provided. procedures that were used. This allows other
researchers to assess the research and ensures
3. Human Relations that the study can be replicated.
- Psychologists frequently work with a team of
other mental health professionals. This standard of
the ethics code is designed to guide psychologists
in their interactions with others in the field.
