Ethics and Professional Issues Flashcards
In the Ethics Code, which provisions are mandatory and enforceable?
Ethical Standards
In the Ethics Code, which principles are aspirational in nature and non-enforceable?
General Principles
The Ethics Code applies only to which psychologists’ activities?
Scientific, educational, and professional roles
True or False:
The Ethics Code is not intended to be a basis of civil liability, and whether a psychologist has violated the Code standards does not by itself determine whether the psychologist is legally liable in a court action, enforceable, or if other legal consequences should occur.
True
Definition:
The prevailing professional judgment of psychologists engaged in similar activities in similar circumstances, given the knowledge the psychologist had or should have had at the time.
Reasonable
If a psychologists’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing legal authorities what should the psychologist do?
Make known their commitment to the Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the the conflict in a responsible manner in keeping with the basic principles of human rights
A psychologist’s first consideration when choosing a course of action in the context of his/her professional activities is always what?
The welfare of the client (opposed to non-clients, colleagues, and the profession of psychology)
True or False:
Pro bono services are required by the Ethics Code?
False: pro bono services are recommended but not enforceable
When should an informal resolution of an ethical violation take place?
If it appears to be appropriate and does not violate any confidentiality rights
What should a psychologist do if they find that their work has been misused by another?
It is up to the psychologist, but typically involves contacting the involved party and requesting a corrective measure be taken, then documenting the action he/she took to correct the misuse or misrepresentation
When should a psychologist skip an informal resolution for an ethical violation and move forward with making a formal report to the Ethics Committee, state licensing board, or other appropriate authority?
When the violation involves “substantial harm” and is not appropriate for an informal resolution (i.e. sexual misconduct, insurance fraud, and plagiarism)
_______ always takes precedence over the need to educate or punish an offending psychologist
Client confidentiality
True or False:
It would be ethical to deny a person a promotion because he/she is a complainant of an ethical violation?
False: this is unethical, however, the Ethics Code does not prohibit psychologists from making decisions about hiring, promotion, tenure, etc. based on the outcome of a complaint
Sexual harassment behaviors include;
Sexual solicitation, physical advances, verbal or non-verbal conduct that is sexual in nature, that occurs in connection with the psychologist’s activities or roles as a psychologist- is offensive, unwelcome, or creates a hostile environment, and is sufficiently severe or intense to be abusive to a reasonable person in the context
What are Gottlieb’s (1993) three factors when determining the acceptability of a multiple relationship?
- Power differential
- Duration of relationship
- Clarity of termination
What are the three conditions that must be met in order for consent to be truly informed?
- Capacity- able to make rational decisions
- Comprehension- given adequate information and understanding information sufficiently to make an informed decision
- Voluntariness- given consent freely without coercion
Definition:
the freedom of individuals to choose for themselves the time and circumstances under which and the extent to which their beliefs, behaviors, and opinions are to be shared or withheld from others
Privacy
Definition:
obligation of psychologists to protect clients from unauthorized disclosing of information revealed in the context of a professional relationship
Confidential
Definition:
a legal concept that protects a client’s confidentiality in the context of legal proceedings
Privilege
When may psychologists barter with clients?
Only if it not clinically contraindicated and the resulting arrangement is not exploitative
Knapp and VandeCreek (2003) suggest that it would be appropriate for a faculty member to question a student about his/her mental state under which circumstances?
When the student has exhibited a number of behaviors suggestive of depression and suicidal ideation
Informed consent to participate in a research study should include what?
- purpose of the research
- right to decline/withdraw at any time
- any foreseeable consequences for participating (risks, discomfort, or adverse effects)
- any foreseeable consequences for declining/withdrawing
- any research benefits
- limits to confidentiality
- incentives for participating
- contact information for questions/rights/concerns
When does a psychologist NOT need informed consent for participation in research?
If research consists only of naturalistic observations in public places and it is not anticipated that recording could cause personal identification or harm, or a research design that involves deception (must be debriefed afterwards)
When is deception allowed in research?
- justified by the significant prospective scientific, educational, or applied value of the study
- other non-deceptive alternative procedures are not feasible
- participants are not reasonably expected to experience distress or pain
- explanation of the deception (debriefing) occurs as soon as is feasible- preferably at the conclusion of participation and no later than at the conclusion of data collection
- participants are permitted to withdraw their data
