Ethical behaviors of psychologists: changes since 1987

Licensed psychologists (n = 92) in Illinois were surveyed regarding the frequency with which they engage in 82 behaviors of varying ethical appropriateness. For about one-third of the behaviors studied, results differed significantly from a similar national survey published in 1987, such that the current sample reported never engaging in the behavior more frequently than did the previous sample. These differences may be due to increased involvement of managed care in professional practice, the revised ethical code, or regional or sampling factors. Implications of these results, including the need to assess ethical norms frequently, are discussed.