Standards on Advertising and Other Public Statements

Question 1

5.01 Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements

Answer 1

• Prohibits false, deceptive, or fraudulent public statements regarding work activities or the activities of persons or organizations with which psychologists are affiliated
• A degree in psychology earned from a regionally accredited educational institution
• Degree is from a program in nonaccredited institution, whose curriculum and training experiences have been approved by the state in which the psychologist practices as qualifying him or her for eligibility for licensure in psychology

Question 2

Public statement

Answer 2

• Statements made in public domain
• Does not apply to statements made during private professional or personal conversations with clients/patients, organizational clients, attorneys, students, colleagues, or others with whom psychologists have a professional or personal relationship

Question 3

5.02 Statements by Others

Answer 3

• Psychologists retain professional responsibility for false, deceptive, or fraudulent public statements by others whom they have engaged to promote their work or products.
• Prohibits psychologists from paying or otherwise compensating members of the media in return for news coverage of their work
• Permits to run paid advertisements describing their services, publications, products, or other aspects of their work, as long as it is stated or otherwise clear to consumers that it is a paid advertisement

Question 4

5.03 Descriptions of Workshops and Non-Degree-Granting Educational Programs

Answer 4

• Psychologists who offer non-degree-granting programs are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of announcements, catalogs, brochures, or advertisements appearing in print, the Internet, or other media.
• Announcements must clearly specify the intended audience, educational objectives, presenters,m and fees

Question 5

To the degree to which they exercise control

Answer 5

• Best efforts to control and monitor the process, errors or misrepresentations by others
• Should take reasonable steps to correct these errors

Question 6

Industry-Sponsored Workshops

Answer 6

Psychologists conducting industry-sponsored continuing education programs must ensure that the teaching materials are not biased toward the marketing interests of the sponsor

Question 7

5.04 Media Presentations

Answer 7

• Prohibits from giving public advice or comment on media on topics and issues that are outside the boundaries of their competence based on their education, training, supervised experience, or other accepted means of acquiring professional or scientific expertise
• Prohibits psychologists from giving public comment or advice that significantly deviates from or is otherwise inconsistent with established psychological literature and practice.
• Establishing public trust
• Should clarify the educative versus therapeutic nature of their answers, avoid language that implies personal knowledge about the person asking the question, and take steps to avoid repeat communications with the person that may encourage the mistaken impression that a professional relationship has been established

Question 8

5.05 Testimonials

Answer 8

• Psychologists are prohibited from asking individuals who are vulnerable to undue influence to provide commercial statements testifying to the benefits of the psychologist’s services
• Prohibits solicitation of testimonials from clients/patients currently in therapy with the psychologist

Question 9

5.06 In-Person Solicitation

Answer 9

• Prohibits psychologists from soliciting business from individuals who, because of their particular circumstance, are vulnerable to undue influence
• Should be wary of public statements, brochures, and web-based or other descriptions of services that are intended to exploit populations vulnerable to undue influence by generating fear and anxiety