Ethics Resources

Ethics Committee provides FAQ on ethical dilemmas confronting psychologists and the use of artificial intelligence

The Ethics Committee Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Ethical Issues Related to the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Social Media in Psychology (PDF, 258KB)
These FAQs were drafted by Laura Lamminen, PhD, ABPP, Nancy Haug, PhD, ABPP, and Heather Ciesielski, PhD, ABPP, members of the APA Ethics Committee, with the support of the APA Ethics Office staff.  

Ethics FAQ on overturning of Roe v. Wade

The Ethics Committee endorses the recent FAQ prepared by Ethics Committee Chair Dr. Mary Brabeck and Vice Chair Dr. Evelyn Hunter, titled Frequently asked questions regarding the ethical issues related to the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade (1973) (PDF, 120KB), published on July 27, 2022.

COVID-19

We know you may have many questions related to the COVID-19 crisis, and we want you to be able to find answers as quickly as possible. Please visit APA’s resource page on COVID-19 and pandemics. Many of your questions may be answered via that information. If you are particularly interested in telepsychology, information on ethical issues related to telepsychology are embedded in APA’s telepsychology guidelines. APA also has a helpful telepsychology resource page. If you have not found an answer to your question, please submit an email through the information provided on our contact page.

Rules and procedures

The APA Board of Directors approved revised Rules and Procedures of the Ethics Committee (PDF, 196KB)

The revised Rules, adopted in response to the recommendations of the APA Commission on Ethics Processes, are designed to simplify and streamline the APA adjudication process, making the Rules less legalistic and easier to comprehend. Under the new Rules, APA’s adjudication program concentrates its efforts on Ethics Committee review of serious ethics violations that could lead to expulsion.

Important changes in the Rules include:

• The fair and effective “show cause” adjudication process is expanded. Currently, the show cause process requires a member to “show cause” why he or she should not be expelled if behavior meeting an expellable threshold results in one of a list of serious actions being taken against his/her license by a licensing board, his/her state psychological association membership, or if he or she is convicted of a felony. Under the new Rules, the list of serious actions for which the show cause process may be used is expanded to include any additional licensing board action significantly limiting the member’s license. In addition, disciplinary actions by other entities (such as a governmental body, faculty grievance committee, or civil or criminal court) can be considered for the show cause process if APA can obtain a record showing the adverse action, the expellable behavior, and that the proceedings afforded the psychologist due process.
• The ethics complaint process is now reserved for serious complaints alleging expellable behavior (for example, sexual misconduct, insurance fraud, plagiarism) that would otherwise have no avenue for review. Individuals contacting APA wishing to file a complaint will also be provided information on other potential forums having a greater ability to review the complaint in depth and provide the types of resolution complainants are seeking.
• Timelines are simplified, made more consistent throughout the Rules, and, in some cases, shortened.

The APA Commission on Ethics Processes was established via APA Board of Directors’ recommendation and APA Council of Representatives’ approval as one of the first steps in a series of recommendations following the APA Independent Review (also known as the Hoffman Report). The commission was made up of 17 members with subject matter expertise in ethics, half psychologists and half professionals representing disciplinary fields other than psychology, including law, philosophy, psychiatry, social science and medicine. Commission members represented a diversity of perspectives, specialties, practice settings and careers, as well as human diversity. The purpose of the commission was to examine APA’s ethics processes and recommend changes. The commission made 12 specific recommendations for change in the Commission Report.

Read the Commission Report (PDF, 330KB)

• APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2017) (PDF, 272KB)

• APA Ethics Committee Rules and Procedures (2018) (PDF, 196KB)
• APA Ethics Committee Rules and Procedures (2016)

• The 2003 Ethics Code became effective June 1, 2003 and was published in the December 2002 American Psychologist.

• Hard copies of the Code are also available from the APA Service Center.

• A terminally ill patient's last request
  November 2009, The Monitor on Psychology

• Termination and abandonment: A key ethical decision
  September 2009, The Monitor on Psychology

• Disability as an ethical issue
  June 2009, The Monitor on Psychology

• Essential Ethics for Psychologists
  This one-of-a-kind book acculturates the reader into ethical practice in psychology by enhancing critical thinking skills.

• Ethical Conflicts in Psychology
  This updated edition presents selected readings on crucial ethical issues that psychologists encounter in their roles as clinicians, researchers, teachers, consultants, and assessors.

• Ethics Desk Reference for Psychologists
  This book is an easy-to-use pocket guide that aids psychologists in identifying and avoiding ethical dilemmas.