The American Psychological Association (APA) Code Of Ethics
Psychologists may be tasked with promoting mental and emotional wellness in various avenues, requiring specialized skills and education, and careful adherence to ethical standards. Clients may often discuss highly sensitive topics, entrusting the therapist with personal details and relying on them for advice, support, and empathy.
Due to the sensitive nature of this position, professionals from the American Psychological Association (APA)—the foremost organization for psychologists in the United States—developed a strict code of ethical practices, and ethical guidance for psychologists and therapists to abide by. Whether you're a therapist, a client, or a curious community member, looking into the history, contents, and relevance of the APA ethical code to understand its significance in greater detail can be helpful.
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Find your matchAmerican Psychological Association (APA) Code of Ethics history
The American Psychological Association (APA) was founded in 1892 by psychology professor G. Stanley Hall and a group of like-minded early psychologists. By the 1940s, psychology was experiencing a significant period of growth. Psychologists were responsible for evaluating the mental health of young men drafted into World War II and treating the mental health of hospitalized soldiers. Because of the increased visibility of the profession and the need for accountability, the American Psychological Association felt that an ethics code was needed.
First American Psychological Association Ethics Code
The first American Psychological Association Ethics Code was created in 1953. It was more than 170 pages long, with contributions from over 2,000 psychologists. The code was primarily composed of real-life ethical dilemmas the psychologists encountered in their practices. Many of these dilemmas remain relevant today, including a patient's right to boundaries, unfair discrimination, and integrity in psychological research. Embedded within the first code of ethics was the expectation that it would be revisited and revised, which has occurred many times throughout history. The most recent revision of the APA Ethics Code was published in 2003, with amendments in 2010 and 2017. These revisions helped bring the code in line with modern-day research and provide updated ethical guidance based on new understandings in psychological science.
The ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct
The official name of the text is the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct," reflecting its two distinct parts. The first part, the general principles, is a list of values psychologists are asked to abide by, though it is not considered a binding or enforceable section. The second part is the ethical standards, a list of ten rules that psychologists must adhere to for ethical conformity or risk losing their license.
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Find your matchThe importance of the “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct” is reflected in the initial statement made in the preamble: "Psychologists are committed to increasing scientific and professional knowledge of behavior and people's understanding of themselves and others and to the use of such knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations, and society."
To whom does the APA Ethics Code apply?
The principles and standards of the Ethics Code apply to practicing psychologists, whether they provide treatment, research, teach educational programs, or work in other areas. While ethical conformity does not apply to psychologists acting in a purely capacity without contact with clients, the ethics code was purposely written broadly to ensure it covers a wide range of situations in which psychologists act professionally, with a high level of competence. Psychologists may consult the code when facing challenging ethical situations.
The code of ethical practices is also adhered to by mental health professionals who are not psychologists but want to commit to a high ethical standard. Additionally, the American Counseling Association (ACA) also has a code of ethics for counselors and nonpsychologists.
Ethics in psychological science and research
In addition to ethical practices that apply to practicing psychologists, those conducting psychological research also must abide by the APA Ethics Code. Therapists and mental health professionals may rely on sound psychological science and research to guide decisions. Additionally, psychology may frequently involve working with vulnerable populations and sensitive topics, making ethics important.
Common ethical considerations that may be used in psychological research include:
- Informed consent – Participants must be told of the purpose of the study, understand risks and benefits, and know how their data will be used.
- Protection from harm – Researchers must minimize distress or risk, and stop the study if harm becomes apparent.
- Integrity – Psychologists may take steps to build trust and avoid conflicts of interest.
- Respect for rights – Researchers should maintain confidentiality and protect privacy.
The five general principles of the APA Code of Ethics
The general principles section of the APA Ethics Code lays out five guiding ethical values psychologists can strive to uphold. While the general principles are not considered binding, psychologists are often expected to adhere to them while practicing.
Beneficence & nonmaleficence
The first principle aligns with the Hippocratic oath practiced by medical doctors, "Do no harm." It's the basic understanding that psychologists act in the best interest of their clients. Practicing under this principle includes an understanding that the psychologist can significantly impact the client, so they should not be unduly influenced.
Fidelity & responsibility
Under this ethical principle, psychologists may be required to act in the best interests of their clients and have high professional standards. They are responsible for their actions and are also asked to accept the consequences of mistakes. These ethical practices may involve holding oneself and others accountable to these standards. This principle also urges psychologists to provide a certain amount of their work pro bono at a reduced cost or free. For some, volunteer work may fulfill this suggestion.
Integrity
The principle of integrity reflects society's trust in the profession of psychology to provide truthful, relevant, thorough work. This principle states that psychologists should not engage in deceptive or dishonest behavior. They must utilize best practices and avoid imprudent commitments as they provide their services.
Justice
This principle states that everyone is entitled to the advances and contributions that have been made to the field of psychology. For this reason, psychologists must treat clients equally and avoid unfair bias.
Respect for people's rights and dignity
According to this ethical adherence principle, all clients have the right to recognize their value and the ability to decide for themselves. This principle also states that psychologists should be sensitive to differences in background, including race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
Ethical standards
Unlike the general principles above, the Ethical Standards are enforceable, providing guidelines through ten different sections, each with several subsections. You can view the complete Ethics Code, including the ethical standards, on the APA's website. Below are the ten sections of this code:
- Resolving Ethical Issues: The APA provides several guidelines and appropriate knowledge for how psychologists and state psychological associations should comport themselves when faced with ethical dilemmas.
- Competence: This standard ensures psychologists provide only those services for which they are qualified.
- Human Relations: This section outlines expectations for how psychologists will act toward clients and colleagues and maintain a professional relationship.
- Advertising and Other Public Statements: This section outlines acceptable methods for soliciting business and promoting psychological services.
- Record Keeping and Fees: The record-keeping and fees section provides guidelines for record-keeping, accounting, and similar processes.
- Education and Training: This standard consists of rules that apply to those responsible for training or teaching psychology-related subjects.
- Research and Publication: The APA lays out guidelines for conducting and publishing research.
- Assessment: This section offers a comprehensive guide for how psychologists should evaluate subjects and provide recommendations in several different arenas.
- Therapy: In this section, the APA sets out numerous rules for psychologists engaging in different therapy forms with clients.
Examples of ethical standards
Although there are hundreds of ethical standards to look through, there are a few that are often encountered in therapy, including but not limited to the following:
- Psychologists must obtain informed consent before working with a client.
- Psychologists must not engage in sexual intimacy or sexual relationships with current clients.
- Psychologists must not work with someone who is a prior sexual partner.
- Psychologists are asked to terminate services when the client no longer requires support, won't benefit, or is harmed by the service.
- Psychologists must avoid harm to their clients, patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, coworkers, and other people they work with.
Why ethical adherence matters for clients and the public
Ethical adherence and ethical practices may be an important foundation for building trust with both clients and the public. Without ethical adherence, clients may not feel comfortable when sharing personal details or challenges. It can also make it challenging for the public to fully trust and understand research if it is not performed ethically.
The APA Code of Ethics may also help to reduce bias while ensuring equity and fairness. Ethical adherence can help reduce discrimination based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, and other identities. This may also help build overall accountability for the profession, allowing licensing boards and regulatory agencies to impose consequences when ethical violations occur.
Support options
If you have been considering working with a psychologist but aren't sure where to start, you have a few options. Some clients face barriers to treatment in person, which might include challenges like financial insecurity or difficulty leaving home. In these cases, psychologists can be contacted online through a platform like BetterHelp.
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Online therapy can be done from home, and providers can often be found through platforms that match clients with someone trained in their area of need. You can also choose between phone, video, or chat sessions, giving you control over how you receive support. Online therapists may follow the same ethical guidance and ethical adherence standards as in-person therapists.
Research shows that online therapy effectively establishes a trusting relationship between a mental health professional and a client. For example, in a study on the effectiveness of online therapy for depression and anxiety, researchers found high levels of the therapeutic alliance during and after treatment.
What is the APA code of ethics?
The APA code of ethics is a set of guiding principles and codes, and enforceable rules of conduct for any members of the American Psychological Association engaged in research, education, or clinical practice. The ethics code is developed and revised by a task force within the APA’s Ethics Office to ensure that it adequately addresses the ethical considerations and the need for resolving ethical issues, including ethics complaints on sexual harassment and unjust practices, that psychologists may encounter in the course of their work.
APA Code of Ethics: Overall principles and enforceable rules
The ethics code consists of both overall principles and specific enforceable rules about how psychological professionals should conduct themselves professionally. Members of the APA and other professionals who commit violations against the Ethics Code and ethical conduct when they provide services to clients may be subject to penalties from the APA’s Ethics Committee, ranging from formal censure to removal of professional licensure.
Why is the APA code of ethics important to psychologists?
Having a well-defined code of ethics and ethical conduct can be extremely important in any field that involves caring for vulnerable people or handling personal and classified records of professional and scientific work. Psychologists and other professionals who provide mental health services and educational counseling often learn intimate details about patients’ lives and have a connection to their medical histories. They may also have considerable influence over their clients’ decisions. In some cases, a psychologist’s opinion or testimony may be sought in legal cases that could have a direct bearing on a patient’s freedom, potential risks for their safety, or financial well-being.
A therapist who mishandles these responsibilities in their psychological services and commits ethical violations may negatively impact the individuals who came to them for help. Adopting clear standards defining what constitutes an ethical violation can make it easier for the APA to hold its members accountable for unacceptable behavior.
Who is responsible for ethical behavior?
According to the APA’s ethics code and enforceable rules, it is an individual psychologist’s responsibility to ensure that they exhibit ethical behavior and professional conduct in their psychological services under their APA membership. The Introduction and Applicability section also specifies that APA members are responsible for maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of the organization’s ethical standards. A lack of knowledge of these standards is not considered an excusable reason for violating them.
What are the 10 sections of the APA Code of Ethics?
The American Psychological Association’s code of ethics is divided into 10 sections, each one discussing potential ethical issues within a different aspect of the profession. These sections are:
- Resolving ethical issues. This segment deals with the correct procedures to guide psychologists on their professional roles for working through potential ethical issues and conflicts. It lays out guidelines for reporting and investigating ethical violations, as well as resolving situations where there’s a conflict between the APA’s ethics code and any legal requirement, legal proceedings, governmental laws, or other governing legal authority.
- Competence. This branch of the APA’s code governs questions about whether an individual can practice, teach, advise, or conduct research beyond the bounds of their professional training. It also spells out the responsibility psychologists take on when delegating work to others. Responsibility psychologists are generally expected to make sure there are no conflicts of interest and that they are not delegating work to underqualified individuals.
- Human relations. The section on human relations concerns issues of discrimination, ethical issues, and conflicts arising from personal relationships. For instance, psychologists are urged to avoid multiple relationships with the same person. Multiple relationships could impair their judgment. Providing mental health treatment to a close friend, for example, would be considered a multiple relationship.
- Advertising and Other Public Statements. This branch of the APA’s ethics code mandates that psychologists strive for accuracy and avoid exceeding the bounds of their training when releasing information for public consumption. It also specifies the ethical limits they must follow when advertising their professional services and other alternative services.
- Record Keeping and Fees. This portion of the code explains a psychologist’s ethical obligations for documenting their activities and maintaining personal records when conducting assessments. It also discusses the need to be transparent when they provide services and lawful when charging for their services and making financial arrangements with the client.
- Education and Training. This section provides ethical guidelines for APA members engaged in any kind of educational activity, such as ensuring that all educational materials are accurate to the best of their knowledge.
- Research and Publication. This segment specifies the ethical requirements for psychological research, such as obtaining informed consent from subjects and research participants, publishing research, and enabling independent verification of research findings. Obtaining informed consent means that details of the study should be presented to the participants.
- Assessment. This portion of the Ethics Code lays out ethical guidelines for performing mental health assessments and diagnoses. It includes a specification that psychologists should not offer opinions about the mental health of people they haven’t professionally examined or they didn’t provide services for, similar to the American Psychiatric Association’s “Goldwater Rule.”
- Therapy. This section of the Ethics Code discusses a psychologist’s ethical obligations and enforceable standards toward people for whom they’re providing mental health treatment. It includes a strict prohibition on sexual relationships with patients, as well as guidelines for when and how it’s appropriate to terminate individual or group therapy.
What are the five main ethical principles of the APA?
The five general principles of the APA’s code of ethics are as follows:
- Beneficence and Nonmaleficence. This principle indicates that psychologists should work for the good of the people with whom they work and avoid harm wherever possible.
- Fidelity and Responsibility. The fidelity and responsibility principle refers to a psychologist’s duty to behave responsibly toward their co-workers, professional communities, and society at large.
- Integrity. The integrity principle states that psychologists should aim for honesty, transparency, and accuracy in their professional and scientific work.
- Justice. The justice principle specifies that any form of discrimination or unequal connection within the field of psychology is unethical and that psychologists should attempt to overcome any personal biases or their own biases, including sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and others, that they hold.
- Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity. This principle notes that the people and communities with whom psychologists interact may be especially vulnerable to unethical behavior and ethical issues, and urges psychologists to be sensitive to the unique needs of those they encounter in their professional lives.
What is ethical adherence in psychology?
In psychology, ethical adherence is the code of moral guidelines, principles, and legal requirements that mental health professionals follow. The code may be designed to ensure the safety and dignity of both patients and providers. Parts of the code include accountability, confidentiality, and avoiding conflicts of interest, among others.
How does the APA Code guide ethical decision-making?
The APA Code sets a framework for ethical behavior through the five aspirational principles of Beneficence, Fidelity, Integrity, Justice, and Respect, along with enforceable ethical standards. The code can help providers navigate complex moral dilemmas that may come up related to confidentiality, promoting well-being, and reducing harm.
What happens if a psychologist violates the APA Code of Ethics?
When a psychologist violates the APA Code of Ethics, it may lead to sanctions, including ending APA membership. These sanctions may be appealed in some cases.
How does the APA Code apply to psychological science and research?
The APA Code lays out ethical practices for psychological science and research. This includes standards for protecting human and animal subjects, informed consent, and confidentiality. It also sets ethical standards for review before publication and emphasizes a focus on helping patients while reducing harm.
Why does the APA update its Code of Ethics?
The APA may update the Code of Ethics to ensure that modern understandings and nuances are included in the code. As our understanding of psychology grows, it may be important to continually refine the ethical practices in the field.
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