APA Ethical Principles and Standards

Overview

This lecture explains the American Psychological Association's (APA) Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for psychologists, outlining both aspirational guidelines and enforceable standards for professional conduct across various roles and settings.

Structure and Applicability of the Ethics Code

• The APA Ethics Code includes an Introduction, Preamble, five General Principles, and numerous enforceable Ethical Standards.
• The Code applies to psychologists’ scientific, educational, and professional activities, but not to purely private conduct.
• Membership in APA requires compliance with the Code and its enforcement procedures.
• The Code guides but does not determine legal liability in court actions.
• If ethical responsibilities conflict with law, psychologists must take steps to resolve the conflict in line with human rights.

General Principles (A-E)

• Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence — Strive to benefit others and avoid harm.
• Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility — Build trust, clarify roles, and uphold professional standards.
• Principle C: Integrity — Promote honesty and accuracy, avoid deception except in justified circumstances.
• Principle D: Justice — Ensure fairness, equal access, and avoid bias in services.
• Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity — Value privacy, confidentiality, and respect for individual differences.

Core Ethical Standards (Selected Highlights)

• 1. Resolving Ethical Issues: Take corrective action for misuse of work, resolve conflicts between ethics and law, and report significant ethical violations.
• 2. Competence: Provide services only within areas of competence; maintain and develop professional skills.
• 3. Human Relations: Avoid discrimination, harassment, exploitation, and manage conflicts of interest or multiple relationships.
• 4. Privacy and Confidentiality: Protect confidential information, discuss its limits, and obtain proper consent for disclosures or recordings.
• 5. Advertising and Public Statements: Avoid false, deceptive, or misleading statements; do not solicit testimonials from vulnerable individuals.
• 6. Record Keeping and Fees: Maintain accurate records, ensure confidentiality, and be transparent about fees and financial arrangements.
• 7. Education and Training: Ensure accuracy and fairness in teaching, program descriptions, and evaluation.
• 8. Research and Publication: Obtain informed consent, protect participants, avoid deception unless justified, and ensure humane treatment of animal subjects.
• 9. Assessment: Base assessments on current knowledge and methods, obtain informed consent, interpret results accurately, and maintain test security.
• 10. Therapy: Obtain informed consent in therapy, clarify multiple relationships, avoid inappropriate sexual relationships, and provide pre-termination counseling.

Amendments (2010 & 2016)

• 2010: Emphasize resolving ethics-law conflicts without violating human rights.
• 2016: Explicit prohibition of psychologist involvement in torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading behavior.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Beneficence — Promoting the well-being of clients and others.
• Nonmaleficence — Avoiding harm.
• Fidelity — Maintaining trustworthiness in professional relationships.
• Integrity — Promoting honesty and truthfulness.
• Justice — Providing fair and equitable access to psychological services.
• Informed Consent — Permission granted with full awareness of relevant facts, risks, and alternatives.
• Confidentiality — Protecting private information obtained through a professional relationship.
• Multiple Relationship — When a psychologist has more than one role with a person or closely associated individuals.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review and familiarize yourself with the full APA Ethics Code, especially sections relevant to your area of study.
• Prepare any questions about ethical dilemmas for class discussion.
• Complete any assigned readings on historical amendments or specific ethical standards.