Ethics and Standards of Psychology

Ethics and Standards of Psychology

Introduction

The America Psychological Association has provided with the professionals a list of Ethical Code or Standards to be followed when they are practicing their careers. It aspires to have the psychologists reach the peaks of psychology. Among all the codes, only some are enforceable and are required to be considered when the psychologists are taking any action.

All psychologists work to help the people they work with and ensure that no harm befalls them by the dent of their counseling or therapy. Psychology is a very difficult disciple and majority of the practioners are forced to make crucial decisions everyday for the sake of their patients that are either sometimes, outside the areas which are covered by the code. It is because of this majority of its principles are deemed not be enforced but rather a suggestion (Toriello & Benshoff, 2003).

Discussion

There is a huge list of standards on Code of Ethics, but as mentioned previously are not all enforceable. Many of them are subject to the nature of the psychologist and the nature of the therapy as well as the relationship he has with his patient. For my chosen disciple, i.e. Addictions/Substance Abuse, the enforceable Code of Ethics in my case would be Standard 3: Human Relations.

This Standard has the following principles, which shall be later discussed further,

Unfair Discrimination

Sexual Harassment

Other Harassment

Avoiding Harm

Multiple Relationships

Conflict of Interest

Third-Party Requests for Services

Exploitative Relationships

Cooperation with Other Professionals

Informed Consent

Psychological Services Delivered to or Through Organizations

Interruption of Psychological Services (apa.org, 2002)

Unfair Discrimination

Psychologists are expected not to discriminate in their patients, on the basis of any stereotypical classification, gender, age, race, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture, disability, religion, status or any other basis that is proscribe by the law.

As an official registered and licensed practioners specializing in drug addiction and substance abuse, it would be unfair if the psychologist specifies his patients to be for instance 'white' and belonging to at least middle class households. The basis for this discrimination may be that 'white' people tend to have less serious issues with their abuse problems and belonging to middle or higher families are more liable to pay better for the services of the psychologists. The 'black' people on the other hand, are associated with violence and plenty of other factors and are assumed to be financially not stable (Jackson & Nuttall, 2001, pp. 200-204).

All psychologists are discouraged from discriminating against the patients on such regards.

Sexual Harassment

The Code of Ethics dictates that psychologists are not allowed to engage in sexual harassment. In this context, sexual harassment is defined as sexual solicitation, nonverbal or verbal conduct, physical advances, all of which have a sexual nature and take place while linked to the roles of or the activities of the psychologists.

They are either unwelcome and are considered to be offensive or are responsible for creating a hostile educational or workplace environment; the psychologists is well aware of the fact.

It is intense enough or severe enough ...