Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists Flashcards
PRINCIPLE I
Respect for the Dignity of Persons and Peoples
Respect for dignity recognizes the inherent worth of all human beings, regardless of perceived or real differences in social status, ethnic origin, gender, capacities, or other such characteristics. This inherent worth means that all human beings are worthy of equal moral consideration.
THEREFORE, psychologists accept as fundamental the Principle of Respect for the Dignity of Persons and Peoples. In so doing, they accept the following related values:
a) respect for the unique worth and inherent dignity of all human beings;
b) respect for the diversity among persons and peoples;
c) respect for the customs and beliefs of cultures, to be limited only when a custom or a belief seriously contravenes the principle of respect for the dignity of persons or peoples or causes serious harm to their well-being;
d) free and informed consent, as culturally defined and relevant for individuals, families, groups, and communities;
e) privacy for individuals, families, groups, and communities;
f) protection of confidentiality of personal information, as culturally defined and relevant for individuals, families, groups, and communities;
g) fairness and justice in the treatment of persons and peoples.
PRINCIPLE II
Competent Caring for the Well-Being of Persons and Peoples
Competent caring for the well-being of persons and peoples involves working for their benefit and, above all, doing no harm. It includes maximizing benefits, minimizing potential harm, and offsetting or correcting harm. Competent caring requires the application of knowledge and skills that are appropriate for the nature of a situation as well as the social and cultural context. It also requires the ability to establish interpersonal relationships that enhance potential benefits and reduce potential harm. Another requirement is adequate self-knowledge of how one’s values, experiences, culture, and social context might influence one’s actions and interpretations.
THEREFORE, psychologists accept as fundamental the Principle of Competent Caring for the Well-Being of Persons and Peoples. In so doing, they accept the following related values:
a) active concern for the well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities;
b) taking care to do no harm to individuals, families, groups, and communities;
c) maximizing benefits and minimizing potential harm to individuals, families, groups, and communities;
d) correcting or offsetting harmful effects that have occurred as a result of their activities;
e) developing and maintaining competence;
f) self-knowledge regarding how their own values, attitudes, experiences, and social contexts influence their actions, interpretations, choices, and recommendations;
g) respect for the ability of individuals, families, groups, and communities to make decisions for themselves and to care for themselves and each other.
PRINCIPLE III
Integrity
Integrity is based on honesty, and on truthful, open and accurate communications. It includes recognizing, monitoring, and managing potential biases, multiple relationships, and other conflicts of interest that could result in harm and exploitation of persons or peoples.
THEREFORE, psychologists accept as fundamental the Principle of Integrity. In so doing, they accept the following related values:
a) honesty, and truthful, open and accurate communications;
b) avoiding incomplete disclosure of information unless complete disclosure is culturally inappropriate, or violates confidentiality, or carries the potential to do serious harm to individuals, families, groups, or communities;
c) maximizing impartiality and minimizing biases;
d) not exploiting persons or peoples for personal, professional, or financial gain;
e) avoiding conflicts of interest and declaring them when they cannot be avoided or are inappropriate to avoid.
PRINCIPLE IV
Professional and Scientific Responsibilities to Society
These responsibilities include contributing to the knowledge about human behavior and to persons’ understanding of themselves and others, and using such knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society. They also include conducting its affairs within society in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and encouraging the development of social structures and policies that benefit all persons and peoples.
THEREFORE, psychologists accept as fundamental the Principle of Professional and Scientific Responsibilities to Society. In so doing, they accept the following related values:
a) the discipline’s responsibility to increase scientific and professional knowledge in ways that allow the promotion of the well-being of society and all its members;
b) the discipline’s responsibility to use psychological knowledge for beneficial purposes and to protect such knowledge from being misused, used incompetently, or made useless;
c) the discipline’s responsibility to conduct its affairs in ways that are ethical and consistent with the promotion of the well-being of society and all its members;
d) the discipline’s responsibility to promote the highest ethical ideals in the scientific, professional and educational activities of its members;
e) the discipline’s responsibility to adequately train its members in their ethical responsibilities and required competencies;
f) the discipline’s responsibility to develop its ethical awareness and sensitivity, and to be as self-correcting as possible.
RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES
A. Misuse of Psychologist’s Works
In instances where misuse or misrepresentation of our work comes to our attention, we take appropriate and reasonable steps to correct or minimize effects of such misuse or misrepresentation.
B. Conflicts between Ethics and Law, Regulations or other Governing legal Authority
In instances where our code of ethics conflicts with the law, regulations or governing legal authority, our first step is to take appropriate actions to resolve the conflicts while being committed to our code of ethics. However, if the conflicts cannot be resolved by such means, we adhere to the law, regulations or governing legal authority.
C. Conflicts between Ethics and Organizational Demands
In instances where our code of ethics conflicts with organizational demands, we make our code of ethics known to the organization. We also declare our commitment and adherence to this code when resolving the conflicts.
D. Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations
When we become aware that another psychologist violated our code of ethics, we may resolve the issue by bringing it to the attention of the psychologist. We do so if informal resolution is sufficient and if the intervention does not violate confidentiality rights.
E. Reporting Ethical Violations
1. If there is likely to have substantial harm to a person or organization, we take further action to report violation of the code of ethics to appropriate institutional authorities.
2. However, this does not apply when an intervention would violate confidentiality rights or when we are called to review the work of another psychologist whose professional conduct is in question.
F. Cooperating with Ethics Committee
We cooperate with the ethics investigation, proceedings and requirements of any psychological association we belong to.
G. Improper Complaints
We refrain from filing ethical complaints with reckless disregard or willful ignorance of facts that would disprove allegations of ethical violations. We also refrain from filing complaints without supporting factual evidence.
H. Unfair Discrimination Against Complainants and Respondents
- We do not discriminate against complainants and respondents of ethical complaints by denying them employment, advancement, admissions to academic, tenure or promotion.
- This does not rule out taking appropriate actions based on outcomes of proceedings.
