Ethics

 

The American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code Of Conduct (2002)

 

Interesting Excerpts:

 

“2.03 Maintaining Competence

Psychologists undertake ongoing efforts to develop and maintain their competence.

 

2.04 Bases for Scientific and Professional Judgments

Psychologists’ work is based upon established scientific and professional knowledge of the discipline.

 

2.05 Delegation of Work to Others

Psychologists who delegate work to employees, supervisees, or research or teaching assistants… authorize only those responsibilities that such persons can be expected to perform competently on the basis of their education, training, or experience, either independently or with the level of supervision being provided.

 

3.03 Other Harassment

Psychologists do not knowingly engage in behavior that is harassing or demeaning to persons with whom they interact in their work based on factors such as those persons’ … gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, sexual orientation,…

 

3.04 Avoiding Harm

Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, and others with whom they work.

 

3.05 Multiple Relationships

(a) A multiple relationship occurs when a psychologist is in a professional role with a person and (1) at the same time is in another role with the same person, (2) at the same time is in a relationship with a person closely associated with or related to the person with whom the psychologist has the professional relationship, or (3) promises to enter into another relationship in the future with the person or a person closely associated with or related to the person.

A psychologist refrains from entering into a multiple relationship if the multiple relationship…risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exists.

 

3.06 Conflict of Interest

Psychologists refrain from taking on a professional role when personal, scientific, professional, legal, financial, or other interests or relationships could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity.

…

5. Advertising and Other Public Statements

 

5.01 Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements

(a) Psychologists do not knowingly make public statements that are false, deceptive, or fraudulent concerning their research, practice, or other work activities or those of persons or organizations with which they are affiliated.

(b) Psychologists do not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements concerning… (5) their services; (6) the scientific or clinical basis for, or results or degree of success of, their services; …

 

5.02 Statements by Others

(a) Psychologists who engage others to create public statements that promote their professional practice retain responsibility for such statements.

(c) A paid advertisement relating to psychologists’ activities must be identified or clearly recognizable as such. “

 

5.03 Descriptions of Workshops and Non-Degree-Granting Educational Programs

To the degree to which they exercise control, psychologists responsible for non-degree-granting educational programs ensure that they accurately describe the educational objectives….

 

5.04 Media Presentations

When psychologists provide public comment via print, internet, or other electronic transmission, they take precautions to ensure that statements are based on their professional knowledge, training, or experience in accord with appropriate psychological literature and practice.

 

5.05 Testimonials

Psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.

 

5.06 In-Person Solicitation

Psychologists do not engage, directly or through agents, in uninvited in-person solicitation of business from actual or potential therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.

…

7.01 Design of Education and Training Programs

Psychologists responsible for education and training programs take reasonable steps to ensure that the programs are designed to provide the appropriate knowledge.

…

7.03 Accuracy in Teaching

b) When engaged in teaching or training, psychologists present psychological information accurately.

…

7.07 Sexual Relationships With Students and Supervisees

Psychologists do not engage in sexual relationships with students or supervisees who are in their department, agency, or training center or over whom psychologists have or are likely to have evaluative authority.

…

8.10 Reporting Research Results

(a) Psychologists do not fabricate data.

(b) If psychologists discover significant errors in their published data, they take reasonable steps to correct such errors in a correction, retraction, erratum, or other appropriate publication means.

 

8.11 Plagiarism

Psychologists do not present portions of another’s work or data as their own, even if the other work or data source is cited occasionally.

…

8.14 Sharing Research Data for Verification

(a) After research results are published, psychologists do not withhold the data on which their conclusions are based from other competent professionals who seek to verify the substantive claims through reanalysis.

…

9. Assessment

 

9.01 Bases for Assessments

(a) Psychologists base the opinions contained in their recommendations, reports, and diagnostic or evaluative statements, including forensic testimony, on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate their findings.

 

9.02 Use of Assessments 

…(b) Psychologists use assessment instruments whose validity and reliability have been established for use with members of the population tested…

…

10.02 Therapy Involving Couples or Families

…If it becomes apparent that psychologists may be called on to perform potentially conflicting roles the psychologists take reasonable steps modify, or withdraw from, roles appropriately.

…

10.05 Sexual Intimacies With Current Therapy Clients/Patients

Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with current therapy clients/patients.

…

10.08 Sexual Intimacies With Former Therapy Clients/Patients

 Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients even after a two-year interval except in the most unusual circumstances. Psychologists who engage in such activity bear the burden of demonstrating that there has been no exploitation, in light of all relevant factors, including (1) the amount of time that has passed since therapy terminated; (2) the nature, duration, and intensity of the therapy; (3) the circumstances of termination; (4) the client’s/patient’s personal history; (5) the client’s/patient’s current mental status; (6) the likelihood of adverse impact on the client/patient; and (7) any statements or actions made by the therapist during the course of therapy suggesting or inviting the possibility of a post-termination sexual or romantic relationship with the client/patient.”

 

APA Ethics code 2002.  Full version available at:

 http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.pdf  (pdf) or  http://www2.apa.org/ethics/code2002.doc (Word)