Ethical Standards Essay

447 Words2 Pages
Introduction Ethical standards and codes are considered basic principles which must be appropriate under any personal and professional circumstance. At the same time, ethical standards are respectful to human dignity and of moral principles which determine the difference of right and wrong. In this assignment, the writers define ethical standards and codes in psychology and discuss how changing societal norms have affected the development of ethical standards and codes in psychology. Furthermore, the writers will evaluate how the APA’s ethical standards and codes have influenced the professional practice of psychology. Finally, the writers will conclude the assignment with an explanation as to why professional ethical standards and codes in the field of psychology are so important to the profession. Define ethical standards and codes in psychology In order to understand the importance of ethics in psychology it is important to understand what ethics means. Ethics is a system of moral principles in which an individual is able to distinguish what is wrong and what is right. In psychology, it is especially important to practice ethically and there are certain standards which must be followed. These ethical standards are part of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) code of conduct which must be followed by psychologists and other mental health professionals. The code of ethics is a document that is continually maintained and updated to protect the rights of clients and psychologists and requires psychologists to deliver mental health options and treatment without the quarrels of personal interest and dual roles (APA, 2011). Ethical codes are primarily applied to psychologists and his or her activities that are “part of their scientific, educational, or professional roles as psychologists” (Pope & Vasquez, 2011). Some of the activities covered in
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