Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding the APA Code of EthicsAPA Code of Ethics' 5 PrinciplesThe APA Code of Ethics' StandardsViolationsReporting a TherapistEthical ConsiderationsThe Big Picture
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding the APA Code of Ethics
APA Code of Ethics' 5 Principles
The APA Code of Ethics' Standards
Violations
Reporting a Therapist
Ethical Considerations
The Big Picture
Close
The APA Code of Ethics equips psychology professionals with standards and principles to follow when dealing with the moral and ethical dilemmas they’re likely to face.
Ethics are an important concern in psychology, particularly regarding therapy and research. Working with patients and conducting psychological research can pose various ethical and moral issues that must be addressed.
TheAmerican Psychological Association(APA) publishes the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conductwhich outlines aspirational principles as well as enforceable standards thatpsychologistsshould use when making decisions.
In 1948, APA president Nicholas Hobbs said, “[The APA Code of Ethics] should be of palpable aid to the ethical psychologist in making daily decisions.”
In other words, the APA Code of Ethics is meant to provide a common set of rules that help ensure mutual safety and patient benefit.
When Did the APA Publish Its Code of Ethics?
The APA first published its ethics code in 1953 and has been continuously evolving the code ever since.
What’s in the APA’s Code of Ethics?
The APA Code of Ethics comprises two key elements:
Who Is the APA Code of Ethics For?
Not all ethical issues are clear-cut, but the APA offers psychologists guiding principles to help them make sound ethical choices within their profession.
The APA Code of Ethics' Five PrinciplesPrinciple A: Beneficence and Non-MaleficencePrinciple B: Fidelity and ResponsibilityPrinciple C: IntegrityPrinciple D: JusticePrinciple E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity
The APA Code of Ethics' Five Principles
Principle A: Beneficence and Non-MaleficencePrinciple B: Fidelity and ResponsibilityPrinciple C: IntegrityPrinciple D: JusticePrinciple E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity
Principle A: Beneficence and Non-Maleficence
Psychologists should strive to protect the rights and welfare of those with whom they work professionally.This includes the clients they see in clinical practice, animals that are involved in research andexperiments, and anyone else with whom they engage in professional interaction.
This principle encourages psychologists to strive to eliminatebiases, affiliations, and prejudices that might influence their work. This includes acting independently in research and not allowing affiliations or sponsorships to influence results.
Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility
Psychologists have a moral responsibility to help ensure that others working in their profession also uphold high ethical standards. This principle suggests that psychologists should participate in activities that enhance the ethical compliance and conduct of their colleagues.
Serving as a mentor, taking part in peer review, and pointing out ethical concerns or misconduct are examples of how this principle might be put into action. Psychologists are also encouraged to donate some of their time to the betterment of the community.
Principle C: Integrity
In research and practice, psychologists should never attempt to deceive or misrepresent. For instance, in research, deception can involve fabricating or manipulating results in some way to achieve desired outcomes.Psychologists should also strive for transparency and honesty in their practice.
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Principle D: Justice
Mental health professionals have a responsibility to be fair and impartial.It also states that people have a right to access and benefit from advances that have been made in the field of psychology. It is important for psychologists to treat people equally.
Psychologists should also always practice within their area of expertise and also be aware of their level of competence and limitations.
Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity
Psychologists should respect the right to dignity, privacy, and confidentiality of those they work with professionally.They should also strive to minimize their own biases as well as be aware of issues related to diversity and the concerns of particular populations.
For example, people may have specific concerns related to their age, socioeconomic status,race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or disability.
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The 10 standards found in the APA ethics code are enforceable rules of conduct for psychologists working in clinical practice and academia.
The 10 Standards Found in the APA Code of EthicsResolving Ethical IssuesCompetenceHuman RelationsPrivacy and ConfidentialityAdvertising and Other Public StatementsRecord Keeping and FeesEducation and TrainingResearch and PublicationAssessmentTherapy
The 10 Standards Found in the APA Code of Ethics
Resolving Ethical IssuesCompetenceHuman RelationsPrivacy and ConfidentialityAdvertising and Other Public StatementsRecord Keeping and FeesEducation and TrainingResearch and PublicationAssessmentTherapy
These standards tend to be broad in order to help guide the behavior of psychologists across a wide variety of domains and situations.
They apply to areas such as education, therapy, advertising, privacy, research, and publication.
1: Resolving Ethical Issues
This standard of the APA ethics code provides information about what psychologists should do to resolve ethical situations they may encounter in their work. This includes advice for what researchers should do when their work is misrepresented and when to report ethical violations.
2: Competence
Psychologists must practice within their areas of expertise. When treating clients or working with the public, psychologists must make clear what they are and are not trained to do.
An Exception to This StandardThis standard stipulates that in an emergency situation, professionals may provide services even if it falls outside the scope of their practice in order to ensure that access to services is provided.
An Exception to This Standard
This standard stipulates that in an emergency situation, professionals may provide services even if it falls outside the scope of their practice in order to ensure that access to services is provided.
3: Human Relations
Psychologists frequently work with a team of other mental health professionals. This standard of the ethics code is designed to guide psychologists in their interactions with others in the field.
This includes guidelines for dealing with sexual harassment, and discrimination, avoiding harm during treatment and avoiding exploitative relationships (such as a sexual relationship with a student or subordinate).
4: Privacy and Confidentiality
This standard outlines psychologists’ responsibilities inmaintaining patient confidentiality.Psychologists are obligated to take reasonable precautions to keep client information private.
However, the APA also notes that there are limitations to confidentiality. Sometimes psychologists need to disclose information about their patients in order to consult with other mental health professionals, for example.
In cases where information must be divulged, psychologists must strive to minimize these intrusions on privacy and confidentiality.
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5: Advertising and Other Public Statements
Psychologists who advertise their services must ensure that they accurately depict their training, experience, and expertise. They also need to avoid marketing statements that are deceptive or false.
When presenting at conferences or giving workshops, psychologists should also ensure that the brochures and other marketing materials for the event accurately depict what the event will cover.
6: Record Keeping and Fees
Maintaining accurate records is an important part of a psychologist’s work, whether the individual is working in research or with patients. Patient records includecase notesand other diagnostic assessments used in the course of treatment.
In terms of research, record-keeping involves detailing how studies were performed and the procedures that were used. This allows other researchers to assess the research and ensures that the study can be replicated.
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7: Education and Training
This standard focuses on expectations for behavior when psychologists are teaching or training students.
When creating courses and programs to train other psychologists andmental health professionals, current and accurate evidence-based research should be used.
This standard also states that faculty members are not allowed to provide psychotherapy services to their students.
8: Research and Publication
This standard focuses onethical considerations when conducting research and publishing results.
For example, the APA states that psychologists must obtain approval from the institution that is carrying out the research, present information about the purpose of the study to participants, and inform participants about the potential risks of taking part in the research.
9: Assessment
Psychologists should obtain informed consent before administering assessments. Assessments should be used to support a psychologist’s professional opinion, but psychologists should also understand the limitations of these tools.
They should also take steps to ensure the privacy of those who have taken assessments.
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10: Therapy
This standard outlines professional expectations within the context of providing therapy. Areas that are addressed include the importance of obtaining informed consent and explaining the treatment process to clients.
Confidentiality is addressed, as well as some of the limitations to confidentiality, such as when a client poses an immediate danger to himself or others.
For example, if a psychologist must stop providing services to a client for some reason, they are expected to prepare clients for the change and help locate alternative services.
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What Happens When a Therapist Violates the APA Code of Ethics?
After a report of unethical conduct is received, the APA may censure or reprimand the psychologist, or the individual may have their APA membership revoked. Complaints may be referred to others, including state professional licensing boards.
State psychological associations, professional groups, licensing boards, and government agencies may also choose to impose penalties against the psychologist.
Health insurance agencies and state and federal payers of health insurance claims may also pursue action against professionals for ethical violations related to treatment, billing, or fraud.
Illegal activity may be prosecuted in criminal courts. If this results in a felony conviction, the APA may take further actions including suspension or expulsion from state psychological associations and the suspension or loss of the psychologist’s license to practice.
How Can I Report a Therapist for Unethical Behavior?
Unfortunately, therapists do commit ethical violations. If you would like to file a complaint against a therapist, contact your state’s psychologist licensing board.
How to Find Your State’s Psychologist BoardHere is a list of the U.S. psychology boards. Choose your state and refer to the contact information provided.
How to Find Your State’s Psychologist Board
Here is a list of the U.S. psychology boards. Choose your state and refer to the contact information provided.
Because psychologists often deal with extremely sensitive or volatile situations, ethical concerns play a big role in professional life.
The most significant ethical issues include:
Although the APA Code of Ethics provides respected principles and enforceable standards for professional conduct, psychology is not free from ethical controversy. For example, debates over psychologists’ participation in tortureand the use of animals in psychological research remain hot-button ethical concerns.
Nevertheless, reputable psychologists commonly turn to the APA Code of Ethics for help with moral and ethical issues and decisions commonly faced in their profession.
8 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Including 2010 and 2016 Amendments.Washington, DC: American Psychological Association 2020 https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
Hobbs N.The development of a code of ethical standards for psychology.American Psychologist.1948;3(3):80–84.https://doi.org/10.1037/h0060281
Conlin WE, Boness CL.Ethical considerations for addressing distorted beliefs in psychotherapy.Psychotherapy (Chic).2019;56(4):449-458. doi:10.1037/pst0000252
Stark L.The science of ethics: Deception, the resilient self, and the APA code of ethics, 1966-1973.J Hist Behav Sci. 2010;46(4):337-370. doi:10.1002/jhbs.20468
Smith RD, Holmberg J, Cornish JE.Psychotherapy in the #MeToo era: Ethical issues.Psychotherapy (Chic).2019;56(4):483-490. doi:10.1037/pst0000262
Erickson Cornish JA, Smith RD, Holmberg JR, Dunn TM, Siderius LL.Psychotherapists in danger: The ethics of responding to client threats, stalking, and harassment.Psychotherapy (Chic).2019;56(4):441-448. doi:10.1037/pst0000248
American Psychological Association.Complaints regarding APA members.
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