Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
1) Explain the differences between the ethical standards for clients being treated by psychologists in counseling sessions and the standards for conducting psychological research with human participants.
2) Describe the parts of the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct you expect to relate directly to your future career. Include the section numbers of the parts of the code you discuss.
3) Select and provide the number for one ethical requirement that applies specifically to psychological research and briefly summarize the standard.
4) Explain why this requirement may not apply to a therapy situation.
Sample Solution
- The ethical standards for clients being treated by psychologists in counseling sessions and the standards for conducting psychological research with human participants are different in a number of ways.
- Informed consent: Psychologists must obtain informed consent from clients before providing treatment. This means that clients must be given enough information about the treatment to make an informed decision about whether or not to participate. In research, informed consent is also required, but the information that must be disclosed is different. For example, researchers must disclose the purpose of the research, the risks and benefits of participation, and the participant's right to withdraw from the research at any time
Full Answer Section
- Confidentiality: Psychologists must maintain confidentiality of client information. This means that they cannot disclose client information to anyone without the client's consent. In research, confidentiality is also important, but it may be necessary to disclose some information about participants if it is in the public interest to do so.
- Risk to participants: Psychologists must take steps to minimize the risk of harm to participants in research. This may involve using deception, but only if the deception is justified by the potential benefits of the research. In therapy, the risk of harm to clients is always a concern, but it is generally considered to be less than the risk of harm in research.
- Benefits to participants: Psychologists must ensure that the benefits of research outweigh the risks to participants. This is not always possible, but psychologists must make a good faith effort to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks. In therapy, the benefits to clients are generally considered to be much greater than the risks.
- The parts of the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct that I expect to relate directly to my future career are:
- Section 1: General Principles: These principles provide a framework for ethical decision-making in psychology. They include beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, and respect for people's rights and dignity.
- Section 2: Relationships with Clients: These standards address the ethical responsibilities of psychologists in their interactions with clients. They include informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, multiple relationships, and conflicts of interest.
- Section 3: Relationships with Other Professionals: These standards address the ethical responsibilities of psychologists in their interactions with other professionals. They include providing accurate information, avoiding false or deceptive statements, and respecting the rights of other professionals.
- Section 4: Research and Publication: These standards address the ethical responsibilities of psychologists in conducting research and publishing their findings. They include obtaining informed consent, avoiding deception, protecting participants from harm, and giving credit where credit is due.
- One ethical requirement that applies specifically to psychological research is Standard 8.02, which states that psychologists must obtain informed consent from participants before conducting research. This standard is important because it protects participants from harm and ensures that they are making an informed decision about whether or not to participate in the research.