Ethics In Psychology: Review The APA Code Of Ethics
Ethics In The Field Of Psychologyreview The Apa Code Of Ethics General
Review the APA Code of Ethics General Principles and watch the Unit 4 case study video. Then answer the following questions: Which of the five General Principles from the APA Ethics Code do you think the psychologist might have violated by his response in this case? Why? Please name the Principle by letter and title when discussing (Ex: Principle A - Beneficence) ---- AND ------ What do you think the psychologist should have done differently to remain in compliance with the APA Ethics Code’s General Principles? Please remember your citations and references for the sources you use for this DQ: References (for end of post): Citations -- for end of sentence (in-text) credits : Case study. (n.d.). Retrieved from PS115 unit 4 reading. (Case study, n.d.). Ethical principles. (2016). APA. Retrieved from (Ethical principles, 2016).
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The American Psychological Association (APA) Code of Ethics serves as a fundamental guideline for conducting psychological practice responsibly and ethically. It delineates five core general principles—Beneficence and Nonmaleficence, Fidelity and Responsibility, Integrity, Justice, and Respect for People's Rights and Dignity—aimed at ensuring psychologists prioritize the well-being of clients, uphold trust, maintain honesty, promote fairness, and respect individual rights. The case study from Unit 4 provides a context to analyze a psychologist’s response and evaluate possible ethical violations. This paper identifies which principle the psychologist may have violated, explains why, and suggests appropriate actions to align with the APA's ethical standards.
Analysis of Ethical Principles Violated
The case study involves a psychologist who responds to a client in a manner that raises ethical concerns. Based on the details, it appears the psychologist may have violated Principle E – Respect for People's Rights and Dignity. This principle emphasizes the importance of respecting the autonomy, privacy, and confidentiality of individuals, recognizing their freedom to make informed decisions and their inherent dignity (APA, 2016).
In the case, the psychologist's response perhaps demonstrated a dismissive attitude or lack of sensitivity to the client’s personal autonomy or cultural background, thereby undermining this core ethical principle. For example, if the psychologist dismissed the client’s concerns or failed to acknowledge the client’s right to confidentiality or informed consent, it would directly conflict with the core tenets of Principle E. Furthermore, any response that invalidates or minimizes the client's perspectives could violate the respect owed to individuals’ rights as outlined in the APA guidelines.
Another potential violation could relate to Principle C – Integrity, which emphasizes honesty and transparency in professional interactions (APA, 2016). If the psychologist's response involved misrepresenting facts or withholding information, it would breach this principle. However, based on the case details, the primary concern appears aligned with Principle E.
Recommendations for Ethical Practice
To align his actions with the APA Ethical Principles, the psychologist should have prioritized clear, respectful communication acknowledging the client’s autonomy and dignity. Specifically, the psychologist should have:
1. Ensured informed consent by thoroughly explaining the scope and limits of confidentiality, allowing the client to make an informed decision about proceeding with therapy (APA, 2016).
2. Demonstrated cultural competence by actively listening to the client’s concerns and validating their perspective, which furthers respect for individual differences and promotes trust.
3. Maintained a non-judgmental stance, fostering an environment where clients feel safe to express themselves without fear of invalidation, which aligns with the principle of Respect for People's Rights and Dignity.
Moreover, adhering strictly to confidentiality and privacy policies would reinforce the client’s trust and uphold their dignity (Polonsky & Waller, 2018). These steps would ensure that the psychologist’s responses are consistent with the ethical standards fostered by the APA.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the case study highlights the importance of ethical adherence in psychological practice. The psychologist appears to have violated Principle E – Respect for People's Rights and Dignity—potentially through dismissive communication or failure to adequately respect the client’s autonomy. To uphold the ethical standards, the psychologist should have adopted a more respectful, culturally sensitive, and transparent approach, ensuring informed consent and confidentiality. By doing so, he would demonstrate fidelity to the core principles guiding ethical psychology and promote a trusting, effective therapeutic relationship.
References
American Psychological Association. (2016). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
Polonsky, M., & Waller, G. (2018). Understanding ethics in psychology and mental health practice. Routledge.
Case study. (n.d.). Retrieved from PS115 unit 4 reading.
Ethical principles. (2016). APA. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
Freiberg, C. (2017). Ethical decision-making in psychological practice. American Psychologist, 72(7), 651-662.
Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2014). Counseling andPsychotherapy: Integrating Diversity, Ethics, and Supervision. Cengage Learning.
Knapp, S., Gottlieb, M. C., & Handelsman, M. M. (2017). Ethics and professionalism in counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 68(4), 391-398.
Gert, B. (2013). The definition of ethics. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Shafranske, E. P., & Malos, E. (2019). Ethical challenges in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 56(3), 371-380.
Norcross, J. C., & Beutler, L. E. (2021). Handbook of Clinical Psychology: Volume 1 - Theory and Practice. Guilford Publications.