What To Know About The APA Ethics Code
Psychologists are tasked with promoting mental and emotional wellness in various avenues, requiring specialized skills and education and careful adherence to ethical standards. Clients 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 with the American Psychological Association (APA)—the foremost organization for psychologists in the United States—developed a strict code of ethics 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 Ethics Code to understand its significance in greater detail can be helpful.
History of the APA Code of Ethics
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 in 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.
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.
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 or risk losing their license.
The importance of the code 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."
Whom does the APA Ethics Code Apply To?
The principles and standards of the Ethics Code apply to practicing psychologists, whether they provide treatment, research, teach, or work in other areas. While it 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.
The code is also adhered to by mental health professionals who are not psychologists but want to commit to a high ethical standard. However, the American Counseling Association (ACA) also has a code of ethics for counselors and non-psychologists.
The five general principles
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.
A. Beneficence and 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.
B. Fidelity and responsibility
Under this principle, psychologists must remain loyal to their clients and have high professional standards. They are responsible for their actions and are also asked to accept the consequences of mistakes. This principle involves holding oneself and each other 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.
C. 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 must not engage in deceptive or dishonest behavior. They must utilize best practices and avoid imprudent commitments as they provide their services.
D. 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.
E. Respect for people's rights and dignity
According to this 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 for how psychologists 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.
- Advertising and Other Public Statements: This section outlines acceptable methods for soliciting business and promoting psychological services.
- Record Keeping and Fees: This 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Takeaway
What is the APA ethics code?
The APA code of ethics is a set of guiding principles and codes of conduct for any members of the American Psychological Association engaged in research, education, or clinical practice. The code is developed and revised by a task force within the APA’s Ethics Office to ensure that it adequately addresses the ethical issues that psychologists may encounter in the course of their work.
The ethics code consists of both overall principles and specific enforceable rules about how psychological professionals should conduct themselves professionally. Members of the APA who commit ethical violations may be subject to penalties ranging from formal censure to removal of professional licensure.
Why is the APA ethics code important?
Having a well-defined code of ethics can be extremely important in any field that involves caring for vulnerable people or handling personal records. Psychologists and other professionals who provide mental health services often learn intimate details about patients’ lives and have 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, safety, or financial well-being.
A therapist who misused these responsibilities could have a severe negative impact on the people 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, it is an individual psychologist’s responsibility to ensure that they’re exhibiting ethical behavior. 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 codes 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 correct procedures for working through potential ethical 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, governmental regulation, 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. They’re generally expected to make sure there are no conflicts of interest and that they are not delegating work to underqualified individuals.
- Human relations. This section concerns issues of discrimination and ethical conflicts arising from personal relationships. For instance, psychologists are urged to avoid multiple relationships with the same person when it 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.
- Record Keeping and Fees. This portion of the code explains a psychologist’s ethical obligations for documenting their activities and maintaining personal records. It also discusses the need to be transparent and legally adherent when charging for their services.
- 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 enabling independent verification of research findings.
- Assessment. This portion of the 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, similar to the American Psychiatric Association’s “Goldwater Rule”.
- Therapy. This section discusses a psychologist’s ethical obligations 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 5 main principles of ethics?
The five general principles of the APA’s code of ethics are as follows:
- Beneficence and Non-Maleficence. 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. This principle refers to a psychologist’s duty to behave responsibly toward their co-workers, professional communities, and society at large.
- Integrity. This principle states that psychologists should aim for honesty, transparency, and accuracy in their professional and scientific work.
- Justice. This 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 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 urges psychologists to be sensitive to the unique needs of those they encounter in their professional lives.
What are the 4 basic rules of ethics?
The four principles of biomedical ethics constitute an ethical framework that’s commonly used to guide medical practice and research. These four principles have some notable similarities to the APA’s five general ethical principles, though they’re not identical. These principles are:
- Beneficence. A medical professional’s duty to act in their patient’s best interests.
- Non-maleficence. A medical professional’s duty not to harm their patient, or to pursue the course of treatment that will lead to the least harm.
- Autonomy. A patient’s right to make any relevant decisions about their own care, provided that they’re mentally competent to do so. This includes the right to any medical information necessary to make these decisions.
- Justice. A medical professional’s duty to ensure fairness and equity in their treatment of patients and their allocation of medical resources, regardless of the backgrounds and personal characteristics of the people in their care.
What is an example of non-maleficence?
An example of the principle of non-maleficence as applied in psychology might be the decision not to conduct a research study that would likely be psychologically traumatizing to participants. Even if such an experiment might reveal useful insights into human psychology, the researcher’s obligation to avoid causing unnecessary harm to research subjects might compel them to look for alternative methods.
What is the least harm principle?
The least harm principle can be understood as an extension of the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence.
Some kinds of medical treatment may cause suffering or carry risks of long-term harmful effects. However, withholding those treatments could lead to even greater negative outcomes for a patient. The principle of least harm states that a medical professional should weigh the positive and negative effects of each course of action and choose the one that seems likely to lead to the least harmful outcome.
For example, prolonged exposure therapy (PET) can involve prompting patients to recall or encounter situations that remind them of past trauma. This may result in short-term feelings of distress, but in the long term, it’s considered an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The possibility of relieving severe negative symptoms could outweigh the immediate unpleasant effects of this form of therapy.
What are examples of beneficence?
Potential examples of beneficence in psychology include:
- Suggesting treatments you believe might be helpful
- Encouraging a patient to pursue healthy activities
- Listening and expressing empathy when a client is in distress
- Proactively offering evidence-based advice that might help a patient achieve their stated goals
- Referring a patient to another therapist if you believe their expertise is better suited to the patient’s needs
What's an example of an ethical dilemma?
The following hypothetical example of an ethical dilemma may help illustrate the value of clear ethical standards in psychology.
Imagine that you are conducting an experimental trial of a novel psychotherapeutic technique. The therapy sessions are conducted by graduate students who provide therapy to volunteer subjects. One day, a volunteer tells you that he’s been subjected to sexual harassment by the student conducting his therapy sessions.
You review the transcripts of the sessions, and you think the patient has misinterpreted your student’s actions. However, you’re still wondering if you should report this to your institution’s ethics committee. It could have negative repercussions for the student, and you don’t personally think the complaint is valid. What should you do?
In situations like these, having well-defined guidelines for investigating and reporting potential ethical violations can be very helpful.
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