EPPP- Ethics Study Guide Review Questions and
Correct Answers.
When APA Can Take Action Against Psychologist - ANS-complaints of unethical conduct
- after a member's "conviction of a felony, expulsion or suspension from an affiliated state
psychological association, or suspension or loss of licensure."
As noted by Fisher (2017), the felony conviction does not have to be related to activities
the member performed in his or her role as a psychologist.
Primary Goals of Ethics Codes - ANS"the welfare and protection of the individuals and
groups with whom psychologists work and the education of members, students, and the
public regarding ethical standards of the discipline."
Difference b/w Ethics Standards and Principles - ANSUnlike the enforceable Ethical
Standards, the General Principles, "should not form the basis for imposing sanctions."
5 Ethics Standards (names only) - ANS- Principle A (Beneficence and Nonmaleficence)
- Principle B (Fidelity and Responsibility)
- Principle C (Integrity)
- Principle D (Justice)
- Principle E (Respect for People's Rights and Dignity)
Principle A - ANSPrinciple A (Beneficence and Nonmaleficence) states that
"psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm."
Principle B - ANSPrinciple B (Fidelity and Responsibility) calls for psychologists to
"establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work ... [and to be] aware of
their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and to the specific communities
in which they work." It also states that "psychologists strive to contribute a portion of their
professional time for little or no compensation or personal advantage."
,Principle C - ANSPrinciple C (Integrity) addresses the importance of promoting "accuracy,
honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology."
Principle D - ANSPrinciple D (Justice) calls for psychologists to "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 - ANSPrinciple E (Respect for People's Rights and Dignity) states that
psychologists "respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to
privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination" and "are aware of and respect cultural,
individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity,
race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language,
and socioeconomic status."
10 Ethical Standards (Names Only) - ANSHER CAR TRAP
Human Relations
Education and Training
Research and Publication
Competence
Advertising and Other Public Statements
Resolving Ethical Issues
Therapy
Record Keeping and Fees
Assessment
Privacy and Confidentiality
Standard 1: Resolving Ethical and Legal/Organizational Conflicts - ANSStandard 1
(Resolving Ethical Issues) of the Ethics Code addresses conflicts between ethical and
legal or organizational requirements, ethical violations by colleagues, responding to
requests from ethics committees, and avoiding unfair discrimination against complainants
and respondents in an ethics complaint.
,Standard 2: Competence - ANSStandard 2 (Competence) of APA's Ethics Code
addresses working within the boundaries of one's competence, delegating work to others,
and dealing with personal problems.
Resolving Ethical and Legal/Organizational Conflicts (part of Standard 1) - ANS1.
Resolving Ethical and Legal/Organizational Conflicts: Conflicts between ethical
requirements and laws, regulations, and organizational demands are addressed in the
Introduction and Standards 1.02 and 1.03 of the APA Ethics Code. For example, Standard
1.02 states that, when conflicts occur, "psychologists clarify the nature of the conflict,
make known their commitment to the Ethics Code, and take reasonable steps to resolve
the conflict consistent with the General Principles and Ethical Standards of the Ethics
Code." It also states that, "under no circumstances may this standard be used to justify or
defend violating human rights." This provision requires psychologists to make a
reasonable effort to resolve a conflict in a way that's consistent with ethical responsibilities
but does not require them to abide by ethical responsibilities in all situations. As noted by
Fisher, "when reasonable actions taken by psychologists do not resolve the conflict, they
are permitted to make a conscientious decision to comply with the legal or regulatory
authority under circumstances in which their actions cannot be used to justify or defend
violating human rights" (2017, p. 59).
Ethical Violations by Colleagues (part of Standard 1) - ANS2. Ethical Violations by
Colleagues: Responding to ethical violations by colleagues is addressed in Standards
1.04 and 1.05: Standard 1.04 requires psychologists to attempt to resolve another
psychologist's ethical violation informally by bringing the violation to the psychologist's
attention when it seems appropriate to do so. Standard 1.05 requires psychologists to
report an ethical violation to an ethics committee, licensing board, or other appropriate
authority or to take other "action appropriate to the situation" when the ethical violation has
caused or is likely to cause substantial harm, is not appropriate for informal resolution, or
was not adequately resolved informally. It's important to note that Standards 1.04 and
1.05 apply only when intervening does not violate any confidentiality rights. For example,
if a current client tells you she was sexually harassed by her previous therapist but doesn't
want you to tell anyone, you would maintain confidentiality and not take any action against
the therapist.
Koocher and Keith-Spiegel (2008) have identified several situations that may not be
amenable to informal resolution. For example, informal resolution may not be appropriate
or possible when the psychologist's violation involves addiction to alcohol or drugs or is
related to a serious emotional disturbance or mental illness, when the violation is due to
the psychologist's general incompetence, or when pre-existing bad feelings between the
psychologists would make an informal approach too confrontational.
, Requests from Ethics Committees (part of Standard 1) - ANS3. Requests from Ethics
Committees: Standard 1.06 requires psychologists to cooperate with investigations and
proceedings of the APA and affiliated psychological associations to which they belong,
and it states that failing to do so constitutes an ethical violation. However, like Standards
1.04 and 1.05, Standard 1.06 requires psychologists to consider issues related to
confidentiality. For instance, if you're asked by an ethics committee to provide it with
information about a current client who has filed a complaint against her previous therapist,
you'd want to make sure the client has signed an authorization for release of information
before doing so.
Unfair Discrimination (part of Standard 1) - ANS4. Unfair Discrimination: Standard 1.08
states that psychologists must not discriminate against others when making decisions
about their employment, advancement, tenure, or admissions to academic programs
solely because they've filed or are the subjects of an ethics complaint. However, it also
states that this prohibition "does not preclude taking action based upon the outcome of
such proceedings or considering other appropriate information."
Boundaries of Competence (Part of Standard 2) - ANS1. Boundaries of Competence:
Standard 2.01 requires psychologists to "provide services, teach, and conduct research
with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on
their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional
experience." Standard 2.01 also addresses competence in specific situations: For
example, Standard 2.01(b) applies to situations in which scientific or professional
knowledge has established that an understanding of issues related to gender, gender
identity, race, ethnicity, or other characteristic is essential for ensuring that professional
services are effective. It states that, to provide services to individuals with these
characteristics, psychologists must have the necessary knowledge and training; and, if
they do not, they should make appropriate referrals.
Standards 2.01(c), 2.01(d), and 2.02 apply when psychologists want or are asked to
provide services that are outside their current boundaries of competence: Standard
2.01(c) states that, when psychologists want to provide services to new populations or
use new techniques, they "undertake relevant education, training, supervised experience,
consultation, or study." This situation is addressed by Koocher and Keith-Spiegel (2008),
who note that determining whether it's better to refer or treat a client whose needs are
outside a psychologist's level of competence depends on the circumstances: When
there's a substantial difference between the client's needs and the psychologist's
competence and an alternative provider is available, referral is ordinarily the best choice.
But, in other circumstances, seeing the client while obtaining consultation and/or
additional training and education may be an acceptable course of action.
Standard 2.01(d) applies when psychologists are asked to
