Principle C: Integrity Psychologists promote honesty and accuracy in science, research, teaching, and practice. They do not cheat, engage in fraud, or intentionally misrepresent facts. They avoid unclear communications. In research they do not manipulate or fabricate Principle D: Justice Psychologists have a responsibility to be fair, to be impartial, and to treat people equally. They recognize that all persons are equally entitled to resources, services, benefits, and opportunities. Hailes et.al. (2021) provide a detailed description of essential elements of a social justice framework. The Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity Psychologists respect the dignity, worth, privacy, and confidentiality of all persons. They are aware of and respect individual, cultural, and role differences and consider these when working with clients. They are aware that special safeguards may be necessary to protect the rights of vulnerable persons.
results to achieve a specific desired outcome. If deception in research is ethically justifiable to maximize benefit and minimize harm, the psychologist is responsible for correcting any mistrust or harmful effects that arise. general principle of Justice also states that psychologists must remain aware of their personal potential biases, boundaries of competence, and limitations of expertise and take precautions to ensure that these do not lead to unjust or unfair practices.
They are aware of issues of diversity when working with clients, including cultural, individual, and role differences. They strive to eliminate the effect of bias based on these factors in their work, and they do not knowingly participate in or accept the behavior of others based on prejudices.
UPDATE TO THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE ETHICS CODE
The APA Ethics Code Task Force (ECTF) is currently in the process of drafting an update to the Ethics Code. Their objective is: “While retaining those aspects of our Ethics Code that serve the public and our discipline and profession well, the charge of the ECTF is to create a Code that is visionary and transformational and that remains a leading practical resource regarding ethics for psychological science, education, and practice” (APA, 2022). In 2021 they began discussing comments received regarding eight draft principles that had been posted for a 90-day comment period beginning on July 15, 2020. Based on these comments, at the most recent meeting on May 19–20, 2022, Ethical Standards and the Code of Conduct The Ethical Standards section of The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct provides specific rules for the professional conduct of the psychologist that are enforceable. Membership in APA is an agreement to comply with these rules as well as the procedures used to enforce them. APA may impose sections on members for violating these rules and may notify other organizations of rule violations. Other organizations that may be notified may include state licensing boards, diplomate certifying agencies, and payors of health care services. Rules violations may lead to penalties from these other agencies if they chose to impose them, whether or not the psychologist is a member of the APA. The Ethical Standards section is divided into 10 standards. Each standard has subsections detailing specific rules. The ECTF is currently working on updating the rules within each standard section, with the next meeting set for November 3–4, 2022. These rules are designed to guide expectations for the ethical practice of psychology. Psychologists are strongly encouraged to review these standards and rules in their entirety, as lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an ethical standard or rule is not a defense against a licensing board complaint. The following are the 10 broad standards and their rules. 1. Resolving Ethical Issues: Rules 1.01–1.08 address responsibilities when dealing with conflicts between ethics, law, regulations, and organizations. Steps to take for informal resolution of potential violations by another psychologist, how to report violations, and the need to cooperate with ethics committee investigations are outlined. 2. Competence: Rules 2.01–2.06 discuss working within the boundaries of competence based on education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience; providing services in emergency situations and the need to discontinue when the emergency ends or appropriate services can be arranged; maintaining competence; delegating work only to others that are
the ECTF decided to divide the principle of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence in to two separate categories. The working titles of the revised foundational and aspirational Principles are: 1. Beneficence. 2. Nonmaleficence. 3. Human and Civil Rights. 4. Integrity. 5. Interrelatedness of People, Systems, and the Environment. 6. Professionalism and Responsibility. 7. Respect for the Welfare of Person and People. 8. Scientific Mindedness. 9. Social Justice. competent and do not have a multiple relationship with those being served; and staying aware of personal conflicts which may impact professional work. 3. Human Relations: Rules 3.01–3.12 detail multiple rules for psychologists in their daily practice with others. Psychologists do not engage in unfair discrimination based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status; they do not engage in harassment or sexual harassment; they take all reasonable steps to avoid doing harm and minimize harm when it is unavoidable; they do not engage in a multiple relationship if doing so could impair the psychologist’s objectivity and effectiveness or if doing so risks exploitation or harm to the client; they avoid conflicts of interest in professional roles; when there are third-party requests for services they clarify roles (i.e., who the client is) and limits of confidentiality; they do not exploit persons over whom they have some authority; they obtain and document informed consent from the service user by using language that is reasonably understandable; they provide information about services when they are provided through an organization; and they make plans for handling interruptions in service. 4. Privacy and Confidentiality: Rules 4.01–4.07 state that psychologist address confidentiality and its limits with clients at the onset of service; they protect confidential information obtained through any medium; they obtain permission before recording individuals; they limit disclosure of confidential information to the minimum needed; and they maintain client confidentiality when consulting with others. These rules also addresses when confidential information can be disclosed with and without client consent. 5. Advertising and Other Public Statements: Rules 5.01– 5.06 define what constitutes public statements and rules related to media presentations and educational programs.
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Book Code: PYFL2024
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