Importance Of Code Of Ethics In Psychology

Imagine conditioning a young child to fear stimulus (Little Albert study). How about taking orphans with no vocal problems, and conditioning them to have a stuttering problem? (the monster study). Lastly, think about psychologists fabricating results to support their experiments. Does these imageries make you cringe? Psychologists have done the aforementioned procedures in the past. After these and other unethical procedures, psychologists came up with guidelines and rules that improves the morale conduct of researchers. The morale conduct guidelines are called the Code of Ethics. A system of ethics is a set of standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession. As members of the psychology profession, researchers are expected to follow the code of ethics established by the APA. Specifically, the code of ethics proposes to …show more content…
Principles A-E are moral, general guidelines psychologists are expected to follow. Principle A is Beneficence and Nonmaleficence. This principle requires psychologists to protect the welfare and rights of animal and human subjects. Principle B is Fidelity and Responsibility. This principles enables Psychologists to critique the work of colleagues. Psychologists are expected to give an unbiased assessment of their colleagues work. Principle C is Integrity. This principle proposes, researches are not allowed to commit fraud, fabricate work, and/or exaggerate findings. Principle D is Justice. This principle proposes that everyone one should benefit from research regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender, and class. Research should be universal, and available to all. Principle E is Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity. This principle emphasizes the obtainment of consent to do research on participants. Confidentiality and privacy of participating subjects is required (“APA Ethics,” 2014). The Code of Ethics is very useful, however, it has