Ethics - General Principles

General Principles

A. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

B. Fidelity and Responsability

C. Honesty

D. Justice

E. Autonomy

A. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Providing benefits and balancing benefits, risks, and costs

• Maximize benefits

• Often in conflict with autonomy (benefits might be in conflict with client’s desires)

  • Examples

    • Selecting the best treatment for the client

    • Suicide (ethical obligation vs client’s body autonomy)

• Avoiding the causation of harm

  • Example

    • Experimental therapies

    • Neglecting therapist self-care

B. Fidelity and Responsibility

Loyalty to the client, placing the client’s interest first

• Establishing a relationship of trust

• Putting forward the best representation of psychologists to society

• Example

  • Protecting client confidentiality

  • Avoiding taking a new client when a possible conflict of interest exists if it could compromise the effectiveness of therapy.

C. Integrity

Representing ourselves accurately (science, teaching, and practice) and avoiding deception

• Don’t lie, cheat or steal rule

  • Example

    • Overstating research conclusions

    • Using deception in research

    • Beefing up resume

D. Justice

Treating people fairly. All people should get what they need. Does not mean all people should have the same thing.

• Example\

  • Should be able to get therapy if it is needed

  • Not everyone needs the same type/length of therapy

  • Everyone is entitled to access the benefits of psychology

  • Identify unfair practices

E. Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity

Respecting the decision-making capacities of autonomous persons

• Even if they are not legally competence

• Example

  • Respecting the wishes of the client as to the goals of therapy, such as wanting to make an abusive marriage work, wanting to get a divorce, not wanting additional therapy, even if it increases the risk of relapse later.