Ethics lecture 1

Course code and Instructor

  • Course code: PSYB19-129

  • Instructor: Miklos Bognar

Course schedule

  • Ethics in research

  • Ethics in therapy

  • Laws in psychological research and therapy

  • Grading: written exam at the end of the semester

What is ethics?

  • Ethics: The philosophical (scientific) study of moral phenomena.

  • Applied ethics: examines concrete moral problems encountered in real-life situations. Unlike normative ethics, it is not concerned with discovering or justifying universal ethical principles.

  • Psychological ethics:

    • Ethics of psychological research

    • Ethics of therapy

Literature and Codes

  • Literature

  • Meta-Code of Ethics

  • EFPA: European Federation of Psychologists' Associations

  • APA: American Psychological Association

  • Topics: Publications & Databases

  • Home > Ethics Office > Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

  • Accepted by General Assembly Athens, July 1995

  • Revised by General Assembly Granada, July 2005

Historical/Foundational Ethics

  • Hippocratic Oath (referenced on the page as part of ethical tradition and influence on medical ethics)

Is it especially important? Why?

  • Prompt: Is it especially important? Why?

  • This section highlights the significance of ethics and legal considerations in psychology, prompting reflection on why these standards matter in research and clinical practice, including protection of participants, integrity of findings, and trust in psychological services.

Connections and implications (synthesized from the transcript)

  • The course integrates ethics with both practice (therapy) and research, signaling that ethical standards govern not only clinical interactions but also experimental design, data handling, and participant welfare.

  • The inclusion of both EFPA and APA references indicates an international to national progression in ethical guidelines, suggesting students should be aware of cross-border similarities and differences in codes of conduct.

  • The revisions to the APA Code of Conduct (1995 and 2005 revisions) demonstrate that ethical guidelines evolve over time in response to new challenges in psychology.

  • The Hippocratic Oath’s appearance signals an historical anchor for medical/psychological ethics, underscoring enduring commitments to patient welfare, confidentiality, and non-maleficence.

Notable codes and documents mentioned

  • Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (APA)

    • Accepted by General Assembly Athens, 19951995

    • Revised by General Assembly Granada, 20052005

  • Meta-Code of Ethics (EFPA)

  • European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA)

  • Publications & Databases under Topics

Summary of key concepts

  • Ethics vs Applied Ethics:

    • Ethics is the study of moral phenomena; applied ethics focuses on real-world moral problems rather than universal principles.

  • Psychological ethics divides into two realms:

    • Ethics of research (e.g., participant welfare, consent, confidentiality, risk/benefit assessment)

    • Ethics of therapy (e.g., professional boundaries, informed consent, competence, confidentiality, dual relationships)

  • Codes of conduct and ethical literature provide standardized guidelines for psychologists across research and practice.

  • Legal considerations intersect with ethical practice, governing how research is conducted and how therapy is delivered in compliance with laws.

  • The Hippocratic Oath serves as a historical cornerstone, illustrating long-standing commitments to patient welfare that underpin modern ethical codes.

Key terms to remember

  • Applied ethics

  • Normative ethics

  • Ethics of psychological research

  • Ethics of therapy

  • Meta-Code of Ethics

  • Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

  • Hippocratic Oath

  • EFPA (European Federation of Psychologists' Associations)

  • APA (American Psychological Association)

Formulas and numerical references

  • No mathematical formulas are provided in the transcript. Dates mentioned are represented as years: 19951995, 20052005.