APA Ethics Code Standards 3 & 4

Question 1

Human Relations: Standard 3

Answer 1

Standard 3, titled “Human Relations,” outlines ethical requirements related to discrimination, harassment, multiple relationships, informed consent, and interruption of services.

Question 2

What is in Standard 3

Answer 2

Standard 3.01: Unfair Discrimination
Standard 3.02: Sexual Harassment
Standard 3.03: Other Harassment
Standard 3.04: Avoiding Harm
Standard 3.05: Multiple Relationships
Standard 3.06: Conflict of Interest
Standard 3.07: Third-Party Requests for Services
Standard 3.08: Exploitative Relationships
Standard 3.09: Cooperation with Other Professionals
Standard 3.10: Informed Consent
Standard 3.11: Psychological Services Delivered to or Through Organizations
Standard 3.12: Interruption of Psychological Services

Question 3

3.01 Unfair Discrimination:

Answer 3

Psychologists do not engage in unfair discrimination based on various factors such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status in their work-related activities.

Question 4

3.02 Sexual Harassment:

Answer 4

Psychologists refrain from engaging in sexual harassment, which includes unwelcome sexual advances or conduct that creates a hostile environment.

Question 5

3.03 Other Harassment:

Answer 5

Psychologists avoid behavior that is harassing or demeaning based on various factors, such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status.

Question 6

3.04 Avoiding Harm:

Answer 6

Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming individuals with whom they work and minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable.
They do not participate in or facilitate torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading behavior.

Question 7

3.05 Multiple Relationships:

Answer 7

Psychologists refrain from entering into multiple relationships if it could impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness or risk exploitation or harm to the person with whom they have a professional relationship.
If a harmful multiple relationship arises, psychologists take reasonable steps to resolve it with the best interests of the affected person in mind.

Question 8

3.06 Conflict of Interest:

Answer 8

Psychologists avoid taking on professional roles when personal, professional, or other interests could impair their objectivity or expose the person or organization to harm or exploitation.

Question 9

3.07 Third-Party Requests for Services:

Answer 9

Psychologists clarify the nature of the relationship and the extent of confidentiality when providing services at the request of a third party.

Question 10

3.08 Exploitative Relationships:

Answer 10

Psychologists do not exploit individuals over whom they have authority, such as clients, students, or employees.

Question 11

3.09 Cooperation with Other Professionals:

Answer 11

Psychologists cooperate with other professionals when it serves the best interests of their clients.

Question 12

3.10 Informed Consent:

Answer 12

Psychologists obtain informed consent before conducting research or providing services, except where mandated by law or regulation.
They provide appropriate explanations and seek assent for persons incapable of giving informed consent.

Question 13

3.11 Psychological Services Delivered to or Through Organizations:

Answer 13

Psychologists providing services through organizations inform clients about the nature of the services, the recipients, the psychologist’s relationship with each person, and the limits of confidentiality.

Question 14

3.12 Interruption of Psychological Services:

Answer 14

Psychologists make reasonable efforts to plan for facilitating services in the event of interruptions, such as illness, relocation, or retirement.

Question 15

Privacy and Confidentiality: Standard 4

Answer 15

Covers discussing the limits of confidentiality and disclosing confidential information.

Question 16

Standard 4: Privacy and Confidentiality
summary

Answer 16

4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality
4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality
4.03 Recording
4.04 Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy
4.05 Disclosures
4.06 Consultations
4.07 Use of Confidential Information for Didactic or Other Purposes

Question 17

4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality

Answer 17

Psychologists have a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained through or stored in any medium, recognizing that the extent and limits of confidentiality may be regulated by law or established by institutional rules or professional or scientific relationship.

Question 18

4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality

Answer 18

Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality: Psychologists discuss with persons (including, to the extent feasible, persons who are legally incapable of giving informed consent and their legal representatives) and organizations with whom they establish a scientific or professional relationship (1) the relevant limits of confidentiality and (2) the foreseeable uses of the information generated through their psychological activities.

Question 19

4.03 Recording

Answer 19

Before recording the voices or images of individuals to whom they provide services, psychologists obtain permission from all such persons or their legal representatives.

Question 20

4.04 Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy

Answer 20

Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy: Psychologists include in written and oral reports and consultations, only information germane to the purpose for which the communication is made.

Question 21

4.05 Disclosures

Answer 21

Psychologists may disclose confidential information with the appropriate consent of the organizational client, the individual client/patient, or another legally authorized person on behalf of the client/patient unless prohibited by law.

Question 22

4.06 Consultations

Answer 22

When consulting with colleagues, psychologists do not disclose confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of a client/patient, research participant, or other person or organization with whom they have a confidential relationship unless they have obtained the prior consent of the person or organization or the disclosure cannot be avoided.

Question 23

4.07 Use of Confidential Information for Didactic or Other Purposes

Answer 23

Psychologists do not disclose in their writings, lectures, or other public media, confidential, personally identifiable information concerning their clients/patients, students, research participants, organizational clients, or other recipients of their services that they obtained during the course of their work, unless they take reasonable steps to disguise the person or organization, the person or organization has consented in writing, or there is legal authorization for doing so.