Fiche d’étude EPPP · Domaine 6
Ethical and Professional Practice
Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
20 % de l’examen · 11 énoncés de compétence · EPPP intégré de l’ASPPB
This competency domain requires knowledge of ethical codes and professional standards, the laws and regulations that govern its practice, and application of this knowledge to (a) professional practice and (b) the scope and limit of one’s own competence.
Chaque énoncé de compétence et ses notions clés
- 6.A.1 The APA and CPA codes: what binds and what guides
APA General Principles: Five aspirational ideals: A, Beneficence and Nonmaleficence; B, Fidelity and Responsibility; C, Integrity; D, Justice; E, Respect for People's Rights and Dignity. They guide judgment but are not enforceable rules and are not meant as a basis for sanctions.
APA Ethical Standards: Ten enforceable sections, from 1, Resolving Ethical Issues, to 10, Therapy. They apply to activities that are part of a psychologist's scientific, educational or professional role, not to purely private conduct.
- 6.A.2 Standards, guidelines and what each asks of you
Standards versus guidelines: In APA's usage, standards are mandatory and may carry an enforcement mechanism. Professional practice guidelines are aspirational: they recommend conduct, are not intended to be mandatory or exhaustive, and may not apply to every situation.
Clinical practice guidelines: Distinct from professional practice guidelines, which address a psychologist's conduct in an area of practice, clinical practice guidelines (treatment guidelines) recommend specific interventions for specific disorders or conditions.
- 6.B.1 Ethical decision making with clients and stakeholders
A decision process: The CPA Code's process asks the psychologist to identify those affected and the ethical issues, consider personal biases and self-interest, develop and weigh alternatives, choose and act, then evaluate the results, take responsibility for the consequences and act to prevent a recurrence.
Informed consent: APA Standards 3.10 and 10.01: inform clients as early as feasible about the nature and course of services, fees, involvement of third parties and limits of confidentiality. For persons legally unable to consent, seek their assent and the permission of a legally authorized person.
- 6.B.2 Seeking consultation on ethics and competence
When to consult: Common triggers include uncertainty about a standard or law, a possible multiple relationship, strong feelings toward a client, a case at the edge of one's training, and personal problems that may affect work, where Standard 2.06(b) names consultation as an appropriate measure.
Protecting the client: Standard 4.06: when consulting, do not disclose information that could reasonably identify a client unless the client consents or the disclosure cannot be avoided, and share only what the purpose of the consultation needs.
- 6.B.3 Raising ethical concerns with a colleague
Informal resolution: Under Standard 1.04, a psychologist who believes another psychologist may have violated the Code brings it to that person's attention, if an informal resolution appears appropriate and doing so would not violate anyone's confidentiality rights.
Further action: Under Standard 1.05, if an apparent violation has substantially harmed or is likely to substantially harm someone, and is not suited to or not resolved by informal means, the psychologist takes further action, such as referral to an ethics committee, licensing board or institutional authority.
- 6.B.4 When law and ethics pull in different directions
Subpoenas and court orders: A request or subpoena from a lawyer is not client consent. Without consent, psychologists disclose only as law mandates or permits (Standard 4.05), which often means asserting the client's privilege or awaiting a court's ruling; a valid court order can compel disclosure.
Mandated reporting: Where the law requires reporting suspected abuse, psychologists report. Standard 4.05 permits disclosure mandated by law, Standard 4.02 requires telling clients about such limits at the outset, and Standard 4.04 limits a report to information germane to its purpose.
- 6.B.5 Research ethics and honest reporting of findings
Approval and consent: Standards 8.01 and 8.02: obtain institutional approval where required, and tell participants the purpose, duration and procedures, their right to decline or withdraw and its consequences, foreseeable risks and benefits, limits of confidentiality, incentives and whom to contact.
Deception and debriefing: Standard 8.07 allows deception only when justified by the study's significant value and when nondeceptive alternatives are not feasible, never about research expected to cause physical pain or severe emotional distress. It is explained as early as feasible, with the option to withdraw data.
- 6.C.1 Recognizing the limits of competence and referring well
Boundaries of competence: APA Standard 2.01(a): provide services only within the boundaries of competence based on education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study or professional experience. Under 2.01(b), where factors such as age, culture, language, religion or disability are essential, obtain the needed training or refer.
Emergencies: Standard 2.02 lets a psychologist provide services outside their competence when no one else is available, so that people are not denied care, and requires ending them once the emergency ends or appropriate services are available.
- 6.C.2 Expanding practice into new areas and technologies
New areas: Standard 2.01(c): psychologists planning to provide services, teach or conduct research involving populations, areas, techniques or technologies new to them undertake relevant education, training, supervised experience, consultation or study.
Emerging areas: Standard 2.01(e): where generally recognized standards for preparatory training do not yet exist, psychologists still take reasonable steps to ensure the competence of their work and to protect clients, students, research participants and others from harm.
- 6.C.3 Keeping competence current
Maintaining competence: APA Standard 2.03 requires ongoing efforts to develop and maintain competence, and Standard 2.04 requires that professional work rest on the established scientific and professional knowledge of the discipline.
Outdated tools: Standard 9.08 bars basing assessment decisions or recommendations on tests and measures that are obsolete and not useful for the current purpose, or on test results that are outdated for that purpose.
- 6.C.4 Owning mistakes and correcting them
Misuse of one's work: Standard 1.01: if psychologists learn of misuse or misrepresentation of their work, they take reasonable steps to correct or minimize it, whether the misuse comes from a report, a quotation or an organization's decision.
Errors in published work: Standard 8.10(b): psychologists who discover significant errors in their published data take reasonable steps to correct them through a correction, retraction, erratum or other appropriate means of publication.
ExamDragon, examdragon.com/eppp. Préparation indépendante, sans lien avec l’ASPPB ni approuvée par elle; rédigée dans nos mots d’après le Candidate Handbook de l’EPPP intégré de l’ASPPB.