APA Ethics Code

• Purpose of modifiers in standards

  • Allow professional judgment
  • Eliminate injustice or inequality
  • Ensure applicability across activities
  • Guard against rigid rules that might be outdated
• Psychologists making decisions about professional behavior

  1. Consider Ethics Code

  2. Consider applicable laws and regulations

  3. Consider other materials and guidelines adopted by organizations

  4. Consult with others in the field

  5. Meet higher ethical standard if it conflicts with law
• If psychologists' ethical responsibilities conflict with law, they make known their commitment to the Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner
• Psychologists 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, organisations, and society
• Psychologists respect and protect civil and human rights and the central importance of freedom of inquiry and expression in research, teaching, and publication
• Psychologists strive to help the public in developing informed judgments and choices concerning human behavior
• Roles psychologists perform


  • Researcher
  • Educator
  • Diagnostician
  • Therapist
  • Supervisor
  • Consultant
  • Administrator
  • Social interventionist
  • Expert witness
• The Ethics Code provides a common set of principles and standards upon which psychologists build their professional and scientific work
• The Ethics Code is intended to provide specific standards to cover most situations encountered by psychologists, with the goals of the welfare and protection of individuals and groups, and the education of members, students, and the public
• The development of ethical standards requires a personal commitment and lifelong effort to act ethically, to encourage ethical behavior by students, supervisees, employees, and colleagues, and to consult with others concerning ethical problems
• Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence


  • Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm
  • They seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those they interact with professionally and other affected persons, and the welfare of animal subjects
  • They attempt to resolve conflicts in a way that avoids or minimizes harm
  • They are alert to and guard against personal, financial, social, organizational or political factors that might lead to misuse of their influence
  • They strive to be aware of the possible effect of their own physical and mental health on their ability to help
• Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility


  • Psychologists establish relationships of trust
  • They are aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and specific communities
  • They uphold professional standards, clarify their roles and obligations, accept responsibility for their behavior, and seek to manage conflicts of interest
  • They consult with, refer to, or cooperate with other professionals and institutions to serve the best interests of those they work with
  • They are concerned about the ethical compliance of their colleagues
  • They strive to contribute professional time for little or no compensation or personal advantage
• Principle C: Integrity

  • Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology
• Psychologists do not steal, cheat, or engage in fraud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation of fact
• Psychologists strive to keep their promises and to avoid unwise or unclear commitments
• In situations in which deception may be ethically justifiable to maximize benefits and minimize harm, psychologists have a serious obligation to consider the need for, the possible consequences of, and their responsibility to correct any resulting mistrust or other harmful effects that arise from the use of such techniques
• 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
• 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
• Psychologists are aware that special safeguards may be necessary to protect the rights and welfare of persons or communities whose vulnerabilities impair autonomous decision making
• Factors psychologists consider when working with members of groups

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Gender identity
  • Race
  • Ethnicity
  • Culture
  • National origin
  • Religion
  • Sexual orientation
  • Disability
  • Language
  • Socioeconomic status
• Psychologists try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on those factors, and they do not knowingly participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices