When and why were the first ethical codes introduced in psychology?

The first version of the Ethical Standards of Psychologists was adopted in 1952 and published in 1953 by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Who wrote the code of ethics for psychology?

Nicholas Hobbs
According to the 1953 code’s forward, more than 2,000 psychologists substantially contributed to those first guiding principles, which were shaped by an eight-member Committee on Ethical Standards for Psychology chaired by Nicholas Hobbs.

When was the code of ethics established in psychology?

1953
The APA first published their ethics code in 1953 and has been continuously evolving the code ever since. The current version of the ethics code, which introduced the distinction between principles and standards, was developed in 2002 and later amended in 2010 and 2016.

Who does the psychological code of ethics protect?

The purpose of these codes of conduct is to protect research participants, the reputation of psychology, and psychologists themselves. Moral issues rarely yield a simple, unambiguous, right or wrong answer. It is therefore often a matter of judgment whether the research is justified or not.

Why is code of ethics important in psychology?

Ethics refers to the correct rules of conduct necessary when carrying out research. We have a moral responsibility to protect research participants from harm. The purpose of these codes of conduct is to protect research participants, the reputation of psychology, and psychologists themselves.

When was the APA Code of ethics created?

The American Psychological Association (APA) promulgated the first Code of Ethics for psychologists in 1953. This publication, however, had been preceded by a committee devoted to ethical concerns that had been formed in 1938, and was based on the work of a committee organized in 1947 (Canter, Bennett, Jones, & Nagy, 1994).

What are the ethical principles of a psychologist?

The American Psychological Association (APA) publishes the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct 1  which outlines aspirational principles as well as enforceable standards that psychologists should use when making decisions. The APA first published their ethics code in 1953 and has been continuously evolving the code ever since.

What was the American Psychological Association code of 1953?

The association also published a companion volume, “A Summary of Ethical Principles,” which summed up the major points of the longer document for the public. One of the biggest differences from today’s code is that the 1953 document was chock-full of ethical dilemmas that real psychologists had written to the committee about.

What happens if a psychologist violates the APA ethics code?

Ethical Code Violations What happens if a psychologist violates a standard in the APA ethics code? After a report of unethical conduct is received, the APA may censure or reprimand the psychologist, or the individual may have his or her APA membership revoked.