PS 502 – Ethics and Standards of Professional Psychology

Seminar 7 – Education and Training

Karlene Barrett, PhD, CASAC

Seminar Overview

Check In – Questions, etc… Standard 7 Quick Review / Questions Case presentations and discussion Questions References

General Principles

Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility

Prinicple C: Integrity

Principle D: Justice

Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity

(American Psychological Association, 2002)

Standard 7: Education and Training

7.01 Design of Education and Training Programs7.02 Descriptions of Education and Training Programs7.03 Accuracy in Teaching7.04 Student Disclosure of Personal Information7.05 Mandatory Individual or Group Therapy7.06 Assessing Student and Supervisee Performance7.07 Sexual Relationships with Students and Supervisees

Other Relevant Standards

5.03 Descriptions of Workshops and non-

Degree-Granting Educational Programs

3.05 Multiple Relationships

2.03 Maintaining Competence

Discussion

Many movies about campus life portray a professor involved with a student. This is against the APA Ethics Code. What are some reasons that the APA would be concerned about a professor having a relationship with a student? Both are consenting adults, so what is the ethical issue? What parts of the Code govern this issue? What would you do if you ever found yourself in this position? How would you, as a psychology major, handle this situation?

Discussion All students have a right to privacy when it comes to the

disclosure of the personal educational records. Imagine you are the head of an education program, and you have just found out that one of your professors obtained information about a student. Under the APA Ethics Code, the student has to allow disclosure. Did this professor use the proper procedure in obtaining this

student’s record? Why or why not? Support your answer. What would be a reason that the professor might have for wanting information from the student’s record?

What ethical violations could this professor have made? How will his behavior affect the department head and other professionals in the department? How would you handle this situation according to the Code?

Your Questions…

Questions?

Do you have any other cases that you would like to discuss?

References

American Psychological Association (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx.

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author

Fisher, C. B. (2009). Decoding the ethics code: A practical guide for psychologists (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Have a wonderful week everyone!