APA

CODE
OF
ETHICS
Eve Chesivoir
PRESENTATION GOALS
Briefly cover the history of the APA Code of Ethics

Outline the format and sections of the Ethics Code

Highlight key concepts in the Introduction, Preamble, and General Principles

sections

Summarize the Ethical Standards

Discuss relevant examples of real and hypothetical ethical dilemmas

 • First Code of Ethics was published in 1953

HISTORY
• Publication of the initial code corresponded to the rise
in the practice of clinical psychology that occurred
during World War II
• Recent amendments were made to the APA ethics code
in 2010 and 2016
 2010: Clarified that demands of the government or
organizations may never be used to justify or defend
violating human rights.
 2016: Added that psychologists do not engage
in torture.
FORMAT
Introduction

• Intent, scope, and ramifications of the Ethics Code

Preamble

• What do psychologists do?

• Why do we have an Ethics Code?

General Principles (A-E)

• "Very highest ethical ideals of the profession" (pg. 3)

• General principals are not themselves enforceable

Ethical Standards

• Specific, enforceable rules for conduct as a psychologist

• Fall under 10 categories
 INTENT
• The Ethical Standards are enforceable rules for conduct as a psychologist

INTRODUCTION
• The Ethical Standards are not exhaustive

SCOPE
• The Ethics Code applies to all work-related activities
• The Ethics Code applies to students

RAMIFICATIONS
• Violating the Ethics Code can lead to termination of APA membership and
can potentially lead to loss of licensure
• Modifiers (e.g., "reasonable steps", "appropriately", etc.) allow room for
personal judgment
• If Ethics Code holds a higher standard than the law, psychologists must
meet the higher standard
• Not knowing Ethical Code is not an excuse for violating it
 What are the roles of a psychologist?
• Increase scientific and professional knowledge of behavior and people's understanding

PREAMBLE
of themselves and others.
• Protect and respect civil and human rights.
• Help the public make informed decisions concerning human behavior

The Ethics Code provides a dynamic set of ethical standards for

all psychologists' work-related roles.
 A) Beneficence and Nonmalficence

• Do no harm
GENERAL
PRINCIPLES
• Resolve conflicts in a manner that avoids or minimizes harm
• Know your limits

B) Fidelity and Responsibility

• Accept responsibility
• Manage conflicts of interest
• Maintain a professional demeanor
• Strive to dedicate a portion of time to pro bono work

C) Integrity

• Do good science
• Promote evidence-based practice
• Don't misrepresent facts

D) Justice

• Promote equal quality of psychological treatment

• Ensure that your own biases and limits of expertise do not lead to unjust practices

E) Respect for People's Rights and Dignity

• Be aware of and respect multicultural and diverse identities

• Strive to eliminate the effect of your own biases based on those factors on your work
 1. Resolving Ethical Issues
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
If you learn that your work is being misrepresented, take reasonable steps to correct it
1.01
If psychologists' ethical responsibilities conflict with the law, take reasonable steps
1.02 to resolve the conflict so that it meets the Ethical Standards

Same as 1.02, but with organizations

1.03
If you suspect an ethical violation, try to resolve it informally first
1.04
If informal resolution doesn't work, take further action appropriate to the situation
1.05
Cooperate with ethics investigations
1.06
Don't file fraudulent ethics complaints
1.07
Do not deny employment or advancement opportunities solely based on a person having
1.08 made or being the subject of an ongoing ethics complaint
 2. Competence
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
Only practice, teach, and conduct research within the boundaries of your
2.01 competence

Services can be provided outside your areas of competence in

2.02 emergency situations, but must be discontinued as soon as appropriate
services are available

Maintain and continue to develop competence

2.03
Work should be based on established science and professional
2.04 knowledge in the field

Only delegate work to those who can be expected to perform the tasks
2.05 competently

Know your limits when personal problems come up

2.06
 3. Human Relations
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
Do not unfairly discriminate
3.01
Do not engage in sexual harrassment
3.02
Do not engage in any form of harassment
3.03
Avoid harming clients and others you work with, and minimize harm when harm cannot be avoided
3.04
Avoid entering into a multiple relationship if it could be reasonably expected to impair competence or
3.05 objectivity

Avoid conflicts of interest

3.06
If providing services to a person/entity at the request of a third party, make clear the nature of the
3.07 relationship, uses of services, and limits to confidentiality at the outset of the service

Do not exploit people over whom you have authority

3.08
When indicated, cooperate with other professionals to appropriately serve clients
3.09
Obtain informed consent when providing assessment or therapy, or when conducting research
3.10
 4. Privacy and Confidentiality
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
Take reasonable precautions to protect confidentiality.

4.01
Discuss the limits of confidentiality at the outset of the client relationship.

4.02
Obtain permission from clients before recording them.

4.03
Minimize intrusions on patient privacy (i.e., providing minimum necessary information when

4.04 appropriate).

Only disclose confidential information with the client's consent, or as mandated by law to (1)

4.05 provide needed professional services, (2) obtain appropriate consultations, (3) protect the client or
others from harm, or (4) obtain payment for services.

When consulting with colleagues, do not disclose confidential information (or only disclose

4.06 minimum necessary information if disclosure cannot be avoided).

Do not disclose identifiable client information in writings, lectures, or in the media unless they

4.07 have consented to the disclosure.

 5. Advertising and Public Statements
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
Don't make deceptive or fraudulent statements.

5.01
Psychologists retain professional responsibility for public statements made by others used to

5.02 promote their professional activities.

Accurately describe objectives, fees, and presenters in advertisements for workshops and

5.03 educational programs.

Media presentations must be consistent with the Ethics Code.

5.04
Only disclose confidential information with the client's consent, or as mandated by law to (1)

5.05 provide needed professional services, (2) obtain appropriate consultations, (3) protect the client or
others from harm, or (4) obtain payment for services.

Don't ask for testimonials from current therapy clients.

5.06
Don't solicit business from current or potential therapy clients.

5.07
 6. Record Keeping and Fees
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
Create and maintain records of professional activities to ensure
6.01 billing accuracy and compliance with the law.

Maintain confidentiality when dealing with client records; use

6.02 coding to avoid using person identifiers.

Do not withhold client records requested for emergency

6.03 treatment solely due to nonpayment.

Discuss billing arrangements with clients as early as feasible.

6.04
Only accept goods/services from clients if the arrangement is
6.05 not exploitative.

Ensure accurate reports to payors for services/sources of

6.06 research funding.

Psychologists cannot receive pay solely based on a referral.

6.07
 7. Education and Training
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
Psychologists responsible for education programs ensure that the program is accurately
7.01 represented by its claims.

Psychologists responsible for education programs ensure that current and accurate
7.02 descriptions of the program content and experiences are readily available.

Provide accurate psychological information when teaching.

7.03
Do not require students or supervisees to disclose personal information in program-related
7.04 activities unless the requirement has been clearly outlined in program materials or if it
poses a threat to others.

If therapy is a mandated program requirement, students must have the option to see
7.05 therapists unaffiliated with the program.

Evaluate students based on their actual performance and provide feedback in a timely
7.06 manner.

Do not engage in sexual relationships with students or supervisees.

7.07
 8. Research and Publication
Obtain institutional approval for research when required.
8.01
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
Obtain informed consent from research participants.
8.02
Obtain informed consent from research participants prior to recording their voices or images.
8.03
When conducting research with students or subordinates as participants, protect them from consequences of declining to
8.04 participate.

Only dispense with informed consent if the research is less than minimal risk (or permitted by law).
8.05
Do not offer inappropriate or excessive compensation to research participants.
8.06
Do not use deception in research unless there are no alternatives. Explain any deception used to participants as early as
8.07 feasible.

Allow participants to obtain information about the nature, results and conclusions of research.
8.08
Treat lab animals humanely.
8.09
Do not fabricate data. Correct errors in data if you discover them.
8.10
Do not plagarize.
8.11
Only take authorship credit for work you have substantially contributed to.
8.12
Do not publish previously published data (unless it is properly acknowledged).
8.13
Do not withhold research data for verification after research results have been published.
8.14
When acting as a reviewer for work submitted for publication, be sure to maintain confidentiality.
8.15
 9. Assessment
ETHICAL
STANDARDS
Psychologists may provide opinions of individuals' psychological characteristics only after
9.01* conducting an adequate psychological examination

Only use assessments that are appropriate in light of current research/evidence.

9.02*
Obtain informed consent for assessments.
9.03
Psychologists may refrain from releasing test data to protect a client from harm or misuse.
9.04
When developing assessments, use appropriate psychometric procedures for validation.
9.05
When interpreting assessment results, take into account any limitations.
9.06
Do not promote use of assessment techniques by unqualified individuals.
9.07
Do not use obsolete or outdates assessments or scoring procedures.
9.08
Psychologists retain responsibility for the interpretation of an assessment regardless of who
9.09 scored it.

Clearly explain test results to clients.

9.10
Maintain the security of test materials.
9.11
Discussion Questions
• Are psychologists who practice non-
evidence-based treatments, or use treatments
or assessments with limited scientific
evidence acting unethically?*
• Does resistance to evidence-based practice
constitute an ethics violation?

*Some findings indicate that as little as 39% of practitioners consider current research for
their selection of therapeutic treatments and assessments (Lilienfeld et al., 2013).
 10. Therapy
Obtain informed consent from therapy clients.
ETHICAL 10.01
STANDARDS
When providing therapy to couples or families, make clear which individuals are the clients and
10.02 the relationship the psychologist will have with each person.

When providing group therapy, describe roles and responsibilities of all parties at the outset.
10.03
When providing therapy to people who are also being served by others, consult with the other
10.04 service providers.

Don't have sex with your clients.

10.05
Don't have sex with your clients' relatives or spouses.
10.06
Don't accept former sex partners as clients.
10.07
Don't have sex with former clients (for at least 2 years following cessation?)
10.8
If therapy is interrupted, make efforts to provide for appropriate care for the client.
10.9
Terminate therapy when the client no longer needs your services, and provide appropriate
10.10 referrals.
Case Study
Discussion Questions
• Shouldpsychologists be permitted to
diagnose public figures?
• As informed professionals,
should psychologists have a “duty to
inform” the public about a public figure’s
mental health? Why or why not?
Discussion Questions
• Is the APA Ethics Code outdated?
• If
so, what additional amendments should
be made?
Thank you!