Ethical principles

• Ethical Principles and Standards of Practice

  If mistakes were made, they should do something to correct or minimize the mistakes
• Resolving ethical violations by another psychologist

  1. Informal resolution, as long as it does not violate any confidentiality rights

  2. Referral to state or national committees on professional ethics, state licensing boards, or the appropriate institutional authorities, while still keeping confidentiality rights of the professional in question
• Failure to cooperate in ethics investigation

  An ethics violation, unless they request for deferment of adjudication of an ethics complaint
• Filing complaints responsibly


  Checking facts about the allegations
• Psychologists DO NOT deny persons employment, advancement, admissions, tenure or promotion based solely upon their having made or their being the subject of an ethics complaint
• Psychologists should do their services within the boundaries of their competence


  Based on the amount of training, education, experience, or consultation they had
• Providing services when lacking competence


  1. Make reasonable effort to obtain the competence required

  2. Provide services during emergencies, but discontinue once the appropriate services are available
• Discussing the limits of confidentiality and uses of information


  With persons and organizations with whom they establish a scientific or professional relationships
• Obtaining permission for recording voices or images

  1. From all persons involved or their legal representative

  2. Discussing confidential information only with persons clearly concerned/involved with the matters

  3. Disclosing confidential information only with appropriate consent or if legally mandated
• Psychologists can create public statements as long as they would be responsible for it, but cannot compensate employees of the media in return for publicity in a news item, and paid advertisements must be clearly recognizable
• Conducting research


  1. Provide accurate information and obtain approval prior to conducting the research

  2. Obtain informed consent, which includes purpose, duration, procedures, right to decline/withdraw, consequences, potential risks/discomfort/adverse effects, benefits, limits of confidentiality, incentives, and researcher's contact information

  3. Obtain permission for recording images or voices, unless the research consists of solely naturalistic observations in public places, or research designed includes deception

  4. Dispense or omit informed consent only when research would not create distress or harm, or if permitted by law

  5. Avoid offering excessive incentives for research participation that could coerce participation

  6. Do not conduct study that involves deception unless they have justified the use of deceptive techniques in the study

  7. Give opportunity to the participants about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research and make sure that there are no misconceptions about the research

  8. Ensure the safety and minimize the discomfort, infection, illness, and pain of animal subjects
• Must not present portions of another's work or data as their own, and must take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed or to which they have substantially contributed
• After publishing, they should not withhold data from other competent professionals who intends to reanalyze the data, and shared data must be used only for the declared purpose
• Relevant laws


  • RA 9258 – Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004
  • RA 9262 – Violence Against Women and Children
  • RA 7610 – Child Abuse
  • RA 9165 – Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
  • RA 11469 – Bayanihan to Heal as One Act
  • RA 7277 – Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
  • RA 11210 – Expanded Maternity Leave Law
  • RA 11650 – Inclusive Education Law
  • RA 10173 – Data Privacy Act
  • House Bill 4982 – SOGIE Bill
  • Art. 12 of Revised Penal Code – Insanity Plea
• The APA Code of Conduct is designed to promote the welfare of society by ensuring high standards of conduct among psychologists.
• Ethics refers to moral principles that govern behavior and decision-making.
• Psychologists are encouraged to be aware of their own values, beliefs, attitudes, and prejudices that may influence their actions or judgments.