PSY611 Official Handouts

Ethical Issues in Psychology (PSY611)

Table of Content

Lesson No. Title Page No. Introduction Ethical Problems with Past Research Studies Theoretical Perspectives of Ethics General Ethical Principles Ethical Standards I Ethical Standards II Ethical Standards III Ethical Standards IV Research Ethics & Exempt Research Risks to Research Participants Informed Consent I Informed Consent II Ethical Issues in Psychological Assessment Cultural Competence Psychological Tests Credentialing Issues Important Issues in Assessment Psychotherapy

Lesson 1

Introduction of Ethical Issues in Psychology

Ethics are the moral and philosophical codes of a system, taught and embedded in us which focus on the concept of what is right and wrong. It is in our training, since childhood, to view things as being appropriate or inappropriate. This ethical code of conduct can be observed in multiple spheres of our life. It is important to view the professional values foundational to the profession in order to better understand how appropriately a task is being performed. In psychology, APA has provided Ethical Principles of Psychologists and a Code of Conduct which include sections on clinical practice, education, research and publication.

Code of Ethics

APA's Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct provide a common set of principles and standards. This set of guidelines is uniform and applied across all settings over the entire world by Psychologists. It is important to note that guidelines developed by APA can only be adhered by Psychologists and they cannot be implemented completely to other fields. These guidelines ensure professional conduct for the activities including scientific, educational, or professional roles. Under the terms of its Charter, APA maintains a Code of Ethics and Conduct, which are updated regularly. It is important to keep and update the charter with all the cultural norms and societal changes that take place every now and then. For example, news disorders have been added to DSM-V. These disorders did not exist in DSM-IV because they did not exist at that time. Consider the disorders related to internet. In formulating the codes, society guidance and changes in societal expectations of professionals were considered.

Goals of Ethics in Psychology

The goals of ethics in Psychology are as followed: Welfare and protection of the individuals and groups with whom psychologists work. Their mental, physical and psychological health should not be harmed. Education of members, students, and the public regarding ethical standards of the discipline. It is important to educate people and create awareness. To provide a framework for guiding the decision-making for all psychologists. This helps create a uniform set of rules for all the people to follow. This framework allows sufficient flexibility for a variety of approaches, cultural contexts and methods. This reflects upon the basic ethical standards which apply to all. Acting ethically can be affected by a number of individual and group influences as well as context, including conformity resistance, context, power, emotion, role of social norms, organizational pressures and group/self-identity.

As Psychologists, we know the significance of both the context and the character and how it affects our behavior. Hence, the Code of Ethics encourages all Psychologists to be mindful of their strengths and weaknesses in order that they are able to behave in the most ethical way possible.

Why are Ethics Necessary?

Ethical guidelines are vital in any psychological research. Any research which does not adhere to these ethical guidelines is incorrect and will not be considered. Ethics are the boundaries set in order to protect the participants from psychological harm. It is the duty of the psychologist to make sure that the research is more beneficial for the participant instead of being harmful. Therefore, a psychologist needs to ensure that these guidelines are being followed. Psychologists are required to mention guidelines, in their research, which they’ve considered and followed. There are many advantages to understanding research ethics. Some of the concepts of research ethics are: To provide us with a structure for analysis and decision-making. To support and remind researchers to ensure protection of human subjects. To define the appropriate treatment of subjects in psychological research, i.e., humans or animals.

How Ethics Are Determined?

The ethics of a given research project are determined through a cost-benefit analysis, in which the costs are compared with the benefits. The impact of the research in terms of its benefits and harms on our society is considered. If the potential costs appear to outweigh any potential benefits, then the research should not proceed.