APA Ethics Code (Standards & Principles)

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the APA Ethics Code's general principles and the specific standards for conduct, research, and therapy.

Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm, safeguarding the welfare and rights of people and animals.

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility

Psychologists establish relationships of trust, uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify professional roles, and accept responsibility for their behavior.

Principle C: Integrity

The promotion of accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology; psychologists do not steal, cheat, or engage in fraud.

Principle D: Justice

The recognition that fairness and justice entitle all persons to access to and benefit from the contributions of psychology and to equal quality in processes and services.

Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity

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

Standard 1.01: Misuse of Psychologist's Work

If a psychologist learns of misuse or misrepresentation of their work, they take reasonable steps to correct or minimize it.

Standard 1.02: Conflicts Between Ethics and Law

If ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other legal authority, psychologists make known their commitment to the Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the conflict.

Standard 1.04: Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations

Attempting to resolve an ethical violation by another psychologist by bringing it to their attention if an informal resolution appears appropriate and does not violate confidentiality.

Standard 1.06: Cooperating with Ethics Committees

Psychologists cooperate in investigations and proceedings of the APA; failure to cooperate is itself an ethics violation.

Standard 1.08: Unfair Discrimination Against Complainants and Respondents

Psychologists do not deny persons employment, advancement, or admissions based solely upon their having made or being the subject of an ethics complaint.

Standard 2.01: Boundaries of Competence

Psychologists provide services, teach, and conduct research only within the boundaries of their competence based on education, training, supervised experience, or study.

Standard 2.02: Providing Services in Emergencies

Psychologists may provide services for which they have not obtained necessary training if other mental health services are unavailable, only until the emergency has ended or appropriate services are available.

Standard 2.06: Personal Problems and Conflicts

Psychologists refrain from activities when personal problems prevent them from performing work competently and take measures such as obtaining consultation to determine if duties should be limited or terminated.

Standard 3.02: Sexual Harassment

Sexual solicitation, physical advances, or verbal/nonverbal conduct that is unwelcome, offensive, creates a hostile workplace, or is sufficiently severe to be abusive.

Multiple Relationship

Occurs when a psychologist is in a professional role with a person and at the same time is in another role with that person, or is in a relationship with someone closely associated with them.

Standard 3.06: Conflict of Interest

Refraining from a professional role when personal, scientific, or other interests could impair objectivity, competence, or effectiveness, or expose the client to harm.

Standard 3.08: Exploitative Relationships

Psychologists do not exploit persons over whom they have supervisory, evaluative, or other authority such as clients, students, or supervisees.

Standard 3.10: Informed Consent

Obtaining consent using language that is reasonably understandable; for those legally incapable, providing an explanation, seeking assent, and obtaining permission from an authorized person.

Standard 3.12: Interruption of Psychological Services

Making reasonable efforts to plan for facilitating services if they are interrupted by factors such as the psychologist's illness, death, or relocation.

Standard 4.01: Maintaining Confidentiality

A primary obligation to take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained through or stored in any medium.

Standard 4.05: Disclosures

Psychologists may disclose confidential info with consent, or without consent only as mandated by law or for valid purposes like protecting from harm or obtaining payment (limited to the minimum necessary).

Standard 4.06: Consultations

When consulting with colleagues, psychologists do not disclose information that could lead to the identification of a client unless prior consent was obtained.

Standard 5.01: Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements

Psychologists do not knowingly make public statements that are false or fraudulent concerning their research, practice, credentials, or fees.

Standard 5.05: Testimonials

Psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients or other persons vulnerable to undue influence.

Standard 6.03: Withholding Records for Nonpayment

Psychologists may not withhold records needed for a client's emergency treatment solely because payment has not been received.

Barter

The acceptance of goods, services, or other nonmonetary remuneration from clients/patients in return for psychological services, permitted only if not clinically contraindicated and not exploitative.

Standard 7.04: Student Disclosure of Personal Information

Psychologists do not require students to disclose personal info regarding sexual history, abuse, or relationships unless it is a clearly identified program requirement or necessary to evaluate performance.

Standard 7.07: Sexual Relationships With Students and Supervisees

Psychologists do not engage in sexual relationships with students/supervisees in their department or over whom they have or are likely to have evaluative authority.

Standard 8.07: Deception in Research

Only conducted if justified by study's value and nondeceptive procedures are not feasible; never used for research expected to cause physical pain or severe emotional distress.

Standard 8.08: Debriefing

Providing a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain info about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research and correcting any misconceptions.

Standard 8.11: Plagiarism

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

Standard 8.12: Publication Credit

Psychologists take authorship credit only for work they have performed or substantially contributed to; principal authorship reflects relative contributions regardless of status.

Standard 9.01: Bases for Assessments

Psychologists base opinions on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate findings, typically after conducting an adequate individual examination.

Test Data

Raw and scaled scores, client responses to test stimuli, and psychologists' notes and recordings concerning client behavior during an examination.

Standard 9.08: Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test Results

Psychologists do not base assessment or intervention decisions or recommendations on data or test results that are outdated for the current purpose.

Test Materials

Manuals, instruments, protocols, and test questions or stimuli; a term distinct from test data.

Standard 10.01: Informed Consent to Therapy

Informing clients as early as feasible about the nature and course of therapy, fees, third-party involvement, and limits of confidentiality.

Standard 10.05: Sexual Intimacies with Current Therapy Clients/Patients

Psychologists are strictly prohibited from engaging in sexual intimacies with current therapy clients or patients.

Standard 10.08: Sexual Intimacies with Former Therapy Clients/Patients

Prohibited for at least two years after cessation or termination of therapy, and even after two years only in most unusual circumstances with the burden of proof on the psychologist.

Standard 10.10: Terminating Therapy

Termination occurs when it is clear the client no longer needs the service, is not benefiting, or is being harmed; pretermination counseling and alternative provider suggestions should be provided.