Teaching psychologists and the new APA ethics code: do we fit in?

Area of Science:

• Psychology Education
• Professional Ethics

Background:

• The 1992 American Psychological Association (APA) ethics code impacts teaching psychologists.
• Existing code provisions may not adequately address the unique roles and challenges faced by educators in psychology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the implications of the 1992 APA ethics code for teaching psychologists.
• To identify specific areas of concern and suggest improvements for future ethical guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of the 1992 APA ethics code.
• Comparative analysis with previous ethical standards (APA, 1990).
• Evaluation of provisions relevant to academic settings and teaching roles.

Main Results:

• The 1992 code contains provisions considered housekeeping matters or beyond educators' control.
• Ambiguous restrictions on freedom of inquiry and communication are present.
• Standards for academic teachers are perceived as mediocre, despite some improvements in areas like multiple relationships and student rights.

Conclusions:

• The 1992 APA ethics code requires revision to better serve the needs of teaching psychologists.
• Specific recommendations for enhancing ethical guidelines in psychology education are necessary.
• Future revisions should address the unique professional context of academic psychologists.