American Psychological Association Code of Ethics

Standard 2.01 Boundaries of Competence

(a) Psychologists provide services, teach, and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience.

Standard 3.05 Multiple Relationships (dual relationships)

A) A multiple relationship occurs when a psychologist is in the professional role with a person and 1) at the same time is in another role with the same person, 2) at the same time is in a relationship with a person closely associated with or related to the person with whom the psychologist has the professional relationship, or 3) promises to enter into another relationship in the future with the person or a person closely associated with or related to the person. A psychologist refrains from entering into multiple relationships if the multiple relationships could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist's objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist, or otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exist.

Standard 6.04 Fees and Financial Arrangements

A) As early as is feasible in a professional or scientific relationship psychologists and recipients of psychological services reach an agreement specifying compensation and billing arrangements.

Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

Adopted Auguest 21, 2002 Effective June 1, 2003

American Psychological Association (1990)

Ethical Principles of Psychologist (Amended June 2, 1989). American Psychologist,45, 390-395

Standard 5.01 Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements

Psychologists do not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements concerning 1) their training, experiences, or competence, 2) their academic degrees, 3) their credentials, 4) their institutional or association affiliations, 5) their services, 6) the scientific or clinical basis for, or results or degree of success of, their services, 7) their fees or 8) their publications or research findings.

Standard 10.01 Informed Consent to Therapy

When obtaining informed consent to therapy as required in Standard 3.10, Informed consent, psychologists inform clients/patients as early as feasible in the therapeutic relationship about the nature and anticipated course of therapy, fees, involvement of third parties, and limits of confidentiality and provide sufficient opportunity for the client/patient to ask questions and receive answers.

Standard 3.10 Informed consent

When psychologist conduct research or provide assessment, therapy, counseling, or consulting services in person or via electronic transmission or other forms of communications, they obtain the informed consent of the individual or individuals using language that is reasonably understandable to that person or persons exept when conducting such activities without consent is mandated by law or governemental regulation or as otherwise provided in this Ethics Code.

Standard 10.02 Therapy Involving Couples or Families

When psychologists agree to provide services to several persons who have a relationship they take reasonable steps to clarify at the outset 1) which of the individuals are clients/patients, 2) the relationship the psychologist will have with each person.

Standard 10.03 Group Therapy

When psychologists provide services to several persons in a group setting, they describe at the outset the roles and responsibilities of all parties and the limits of confidentiality.

The Ethics Code provides

a common set of principles and standards upon which psychologist build their professional and scientific work.

Standard 4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality

a) Psychologists discuss with persons and organizations with whom they establish a scientific or professional relationship 1) the relevant limits of confidentiality and 2) the foreseeable uses of the information generated through their psychological activities.

The Preamble and General Priniciples

are aspirational goals to guide psychologist toward the highest ideals of psychology.

The General Principles are

aspirational in nature. Their intent is to guide and inspire psychologist toward the very highest ethical ideals of the profession.

The Introduction

discusses the intent, organization, procedural considerations, and scope of application of the Ethics Code.

The Ethical Standards set forth

enforceable rules for conduct as psychologist.

As used in this Ethics code, the term Reasonable

mean the prevailing professional judgment of psychologist engaged in similar activities in a similar circumstance, given the knowledge the psychologist had or should have had at the time.

The Ethics Code is intended to

provide guidance for psychologist and standards of professional conduct that can be applied by the APA and by other bodies that choose to adopt them.

Standard 1.04 Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations

when psychologists believe that there may have been an ethical violation by another psychologist, they attempt to resolve the issue by bringing it to the attention of that individual, if an informal resolution appears appropriate and the intervention does not violate any confidentiality rights that may be involved.

The modifiers used in some of the standards of this Ethics Code (reasonabily, appropriate, potentially) are included in the standards when they would:

1) Allow professional judgment on the part of psychologist 2) Eliminate injustice or inequality that would occur without the modifier. 3) Ensure applicability across the broad range of activities conducted by psychologist 4) Guard against a set of rigid rules that might quickly be outdated.

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Standard 8.09 Humane Care and Use of Animals in Research

A) Psychologists acquire, care for, use, and dispose of animals in compliance with current federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and with professional standards.

Standard 4.04 Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy

A) Psychologists include in written and oral reports and consultations, only information germane to the purpose for which the communication is made. B) Psychologists discuess confidential information obtained in their work only for appropritate scientific or professional purposes and only with persons clearly concerned with such matters.

Standard 6.05 Barter with Clients/Patients

Barter is the acceptance of goods, services, or other nonmonetary remuneration from clients/patients in return for psychological services. Psychologists may barter only if 1) it is not clinically contraindicated and 2) the resulting arrangement is not exxplitative.

Standard 3.01 Unfair Discrimination

In their work-related activities, psychologists do not engage in unfair discrimination based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or any basis proscribed by law.

The APA's ethical Principles of Psychologist and Code of Conduct consists of an

Introduction, a Preamble, five General Principles (A-E), and specific Ethical Standards.

American Psychological Association (1992)

Ethical Principles of Psychologist and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 47, 1597-1611

American Psychological Association (2002)

Ethical Principles of Psychologist and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060-1073

American Psychological Association (1981)

Ethical Principles of Psychologist. American Psychologist, 36, 633-638

American Psychological Association (1977, March)

Ethical Standards of Psychologist. APA Monitor, 22-23

American Psychological Association (1959)

Ethical Standards of Psychologist. American Psychologist, 14, 279-282.

American Psychological Association (1963)

Ethical Standards of Psychologist. American Psychologist, 18, 56-60

American Psychological Association (1968)

Ethical Standards of Psychologist. American Psychologist, 23, 357-361

American Psychological Association (1953)

Ethical Standards of Psychologist. Washington, DC: Author

American Psychological Association (1979)

Ethical Standards of Psychologist. Washington, DC: Author

The Preamble states

Psychologist 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.

Standard 4.05 Disclosures

Psychologist disclose confidential information without the consent of the individual only as mandated by law or where permitted by law for valid purpose such as to 1) provide needed professional services, 2) obtain appropriate professional consultations, 3) protect the client/patient, psycholoist or others from harm, or 4) obtain payment for services from a client/patient, in which instance disclosure is limited to the minimum that is necessary to achieve the purpose.

Standard 3.08 Exploitative Relationships

Psychologist do not exploit persons over whom they have supervisory, evaluative, or other authority such as client/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, and employees.

Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity

Psychologist respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination.

Standard 10.07 Therapy with Former Sexual Partners

Psychologists do not accept as therapy clients/patients persons with whom they have engaged in sexual intimacies.

Standard 3.02 Sexual Harassment

Psychologists do not engage in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is sexual solicitation, physical advance, or verbal or nonverbal conduct that is sexual in nature, that occurs in connection with the psychologist's activities or roles as a psychologist, and that 1) in unwelcome, is offensive, or creates a hostile workplace or educational environment, and the psychologist knows or is told this, or 2) is sufficiently severe or intense to be abusive to a reasonable person in the context. Sexual harassment can consist of a single intense or severe act or of multiple persistent or pervasive acts.

Standard 10.05 Sexual Intimacies with Current Therapy Clients/Patients

Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with current therapy clients/patients.

Standard 10.06 Sexual Intimacies with Relatives or Significant Others or Current Therapy Clients/Patients

Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with individuals they know to be close relatives, guardians, or significant others of current clients/patients. Psychologists do not terminate therapy to circumvent this standard.

Standard 7.07 Sexual Relationships with Students and Supervisees

Psychologists do not engage in sexual relationships with students or supervisees who are in their department, agency, or training center or over whom psychologists have or are likely to have evaluative authority.

Standard 1.07 Improper Complaints

Psychologists do not file or encourage the filing of ethics complaints that are made with reckless disregard for or willful ignorance of facts that would disprove the allegation.

Standard 3.03 Other Harassment

Psychologists do not knowingly engage in behavior that is harassing or demeaning to persons with whom they interact in their work based on factors such as age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or any basis proscribed by law.

Standard 8.11 Plagiarism

Psychologists do not present portions of another's work or data as their own, even if the other work of data source is cited occasionally.

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility

Psychologists establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work. They are aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and to the specific communities in which they work. They uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles and obligations, accept appropriate responsibility for their behavior, and seek to manage conflicts of interest that could lead to exploitation or harm.

Standard 4.01 Maintaining condifentiality

Psychologists have primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained through or stored in any medium, recognizing that the extent and limits of confidentiality may be regulated by law or established by institutional rules or professional or scientific relationship.

Principle D: Justice

Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice entitle all persons to access to and benefit from the contributions of psychology and to equal quality in the processes, procedures, and services being conducted by psychologists.

Standard 7.01 Design of Education and Training Programs

Psychologists responsible for education and training programs take reasonable steps to ensure that programs are designed to provide the appropriate knowledge and proper experiences, and to meet the requirements for licensure, certification, or other goals for which claims are made by the program.

Standard 7.02 Description of Education and Training Programs

Psychologists responsible for education and training programs take reasonable steps to ensure that there is a current and accurate description of the program content, training goals, and objectives, stipends, and benefits, and requirements that must be met for satisfactory completion of the program. This information must be made readily available to all interested parties.

Principle C: Integrity

Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology.

Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm. They strive to be aware of the possible effect of their own physical and mental health on their ability to help those with whom they work.

Standard 3.04 Avoiding Harm

Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, and others with whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable.

Standard 8.12 Publication Credit

Psychologists take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed or to which they have substantially contributed.

Standard 2.03 Maintaining Competence

Psychologists undertake ongoing efforts to develop and maintain their competence.

The ten ethical standards are:

Resolving Ethical Issues Competence Human Relations Privacy and Confidentiality Advertising and other Public Statement Record Keeping and Fees Education and Training Research and Publication Assessment Therapy

Standard 10.08 Sexual Intimacies with Former Therapy Clients/Patients

a) Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients for at least two years after cessation or termination of therapy. b) Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients even after a two-year interval except in the most unusual circumstances.

Standard 7.05 Mandatory Individual or Group Therapy

a) When individual or group therapy is a program or course requirement, psychologist responsible for that program allow students in undergraduate and graduate programs the option of selecting such therapy from practitioners unaffiliated with the program. b) faculty who are or are likely to be responsible for evaluating students' academic performance do not themselves provide that therapy.