The Ethics Code: Ethical Standard 5 - Advertising and Public Statements

Question 1

5.01: Psychologists should never make _____________________________ regarding their training and experience, their academic degrees, their credentials, their affiliations, their services, the scientific and clinical basis for their services, their fees, or their publications and research findings.

Answer 1

Intentionally deceptive statements.

Note: Public statements basically include any written or oral statement in any form other than an entirely private conversation or letter. They include advertising, licensing applications, brochures, directory listings, curricula vitae, interviews, lectures, and published material. Additionally, when psychologists are presenting their credentials that are relevant to their health service, they should present only those degrees that are the basis for their psychology licensure, or that they received from a regionally accredited institution.

Question 2

5.02: Psychologists retain _________________________ even when they hire someone else to promote them or their practice. Psychologists must try to prevent others from making any deceptive statements and correct them when possible. It is prohibited to _________________ a media employee for publicity or reporting; when paid ads are used, they must be identified as such.

Answer 2

• Responsibility for public statements
• Compensate

Question 3

5.03: Psychologists must exercise whatever control they have to make sure that ____________________ (e.g., brochures, announcements) about non-degree-granting programs (e.g., workshops) contain _______________________ regarding the intended audience, the presenters, and the fees.

Answer 3

• Published material
• Accurate information

Question 4

5.04: When psychologists provide ___________________ (e.g., lectures, radio or television programs, web sites), their statements must be based on appropriate psychological literature and practice, must be consistent with the Ethics Code, and must make clear that there is no __________________________ established.

Answer 4

• Public advice
• Therapeutic relationship

Question 5

5.05: The Ethics Code allows for _____________________ and use of testimonials under certain narrowly circumscribed situations. They may never be solicited from ___________________, or from any persons who are vulnerable to undue influence.

Answer 5

• Solicitation
• Current therapy clients

Question 6

5.06: Solicitation of ___________________ is also prohibited when people are vulnerable to undue influence, though this does not apply to providing disaster or community outreach services.

Answer 6

New business.

Note: i.e., it would be unethical for a psychologist to walk up to people involved in a car accident and encourage them to come to the psychologist’s office for treatment, but it would be ethical to work with a community disaster response team, assessing affected individuals and giving them appropriate referrals for treatment.