Psychology is the science that studies human behavior and its cognitive processes, its ultimate goal is to improve our quality of life, promote and care for mental health, but who or what is responsible for psychologists following these principles?This is where the psychologist comes into play the code of ethics.
The psychologist’s code of ethics is a guide that guides the professional ethics of those engaged in psychology. Throughout the Code of Ethics, there are 59 articles governing professional competence, intervention, research and teaching, obtaining and using information, advertising, remuneration and procedural safeguards.
- Failure to comply with any of these articles will result in an evaluation by the negligent professional through an evaluation committee; Once the gravity of the fault has been judged.
- The corresponding penalty will be applied.
- This penalty may be mild.
- But also severe.
- Such as withdrawal of the diploma and authorization to practice.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the general principles of the code of ethics, giving an overview of your goals.
The first of the general principles (article 5) speaks of the purpose of psychology, which is oriented for human and social purposes, such as well-being, health, quality of life, etc. , any practice in psychology that goes against these objectives. would be unethical.
Article 6 deals with the sincerity of the professional. A psychologist, knowing the actual data, cannot modify it or transmit a fraudulent version. Professional activity should be based on responsibility, honesty and sincerity towards customers and the public, and on the use of instruments and techniques based on scientific and objective bases.
The following principle, Article 7, refers to the use of psychology with negative intentionality, it is absolutely forbidden to use the concepts learned in this discipline to restrict individual freedom or apply ill-treatment, never, under any circumstances, contempt of psychology is justified; whether by armed conflict, obligation, civil war, revolution, terrorism or any other situation that seeks to justify the crime.
Article 8 provides that any psychologist must inform at least the bodies of the school, if he becomes aware of human rights violations, ill-treatment or cruel conditions of detention, not exercising professional or confidential with the client when such situations occur. Unfortunately, this is one of the most violated articles in the code.
The following general principle (Article 9) deals with compliance with the customer’s moral or religious criteria, yes, respecting them does not prevent them from being questioned when necessary in the context of intervention.
Article 10 prohibits psychologists, in the provision of services, from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, sex, creed, ideology or any other differentiator. The application of psychology is universal and, therefore, in practice, the principle of non-discrimination must be respected.
In the general principle of Article 11, it is said that the psychologist cannot benefit from his condition of power or superiority over patients; either for your own benefit or for the benefit of third parties. To take advantage of this status would be to depart from the objectives of psychological discipline.
Section 12 speaks of caution in drafting its reports or diagnostics. Mental disorders or psychological descriptions often accompany social stigma or labels, so we should use language cautiously, trying not to socially degrade any of the clients.
Article 13 aims to prevent the diversion of patients or the diversion of clients. In no case can clients be monopolized and the proposed legal channels must be followed to guide patients, which guarantees that people are treated by the best professional for their problem.
Article 14 prohibits the transfer to third parties of the name or signature of the professional psychologist, being the only person who can sign, as part of the professional practice, the psychologist himself, avoiding the intrusion and cover-up of vain or pseudoscientific practices.
The last of the principles of the psychologist’s code of ethics, included in Article 15, deals with conflicts of interest. When this happens, the psychologist will attempt to carry out his activity as impartially as possible and shall, in situations where it is legitimately appropriate, make use of his arguments before the institutional authorities.
Now that we know the general principles of the psychologist’s code of ethics, why is it so important to have a professional ethics guide?Basically, in the exercise of each psychologist, the whole profession is recorded in one way or another.
But it is also important to note that an ethical code helps us to guide aspirations and regulations in the values of psychological discipline, if we want science for progress and well-being, it is necessary to create limits in professional behavior that prevent us from departing from these objectives.
Finally, it should be added that it is the duty of every psychologist to reflect critically on his professional behavior and the ethical code itself, a permanent debate within a group of committed psychologists will help us to improve an action guide for science and well-being. -be of the people we serve.