Code of Ethics for Psychologists

Preamble

This Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a professional rule for men and women who hold the title of psychologist, regardless of their mode of practice and professional setting, including their teaching and research activities.

Its primary purpose is to protect the public and psychologists from misuse of psychology and from the use of methods and techniques misrepresenting psychology.

The professional organizations that are signatories to this Code are committed to promoting awareness of and respect for the Code. They shall provide support and assistance to their members in this regard. Membership of psychologists in these organizations implies their commitment to the provisions of the Code.

Title I - General principles

The complexity of psychological situations precludes the simple systematic application of practical rules. Compliance with the rules of this

Code of Ethics is based on ethical reflection and a capacity for discernment, in observance of the following major principles:

Respect for the rights of the individual

The psychologist refers his practice to the principles laid down by national, European and international legislation on the respect of the fundamental rights of persons, and especially their dignity, freedom and protection. He/she shall only intervene with the free and informed consent of the persons concerned. Conversely, any person must be able to address a psychologist directly and freely. The psychologist preserves the privacy of the person by guaranteeing professional secrecy, including among colleagues. They respect the fundamental principle that no one is obliged to reveal anything about themselves.

Competence

Psychologists derive their competence from regularly updated theoretical knowledge, continuous training and training in discerning their personal involvement in the understanding of others. Each psychologist is responsible for his or her own qualifications and defines his or her own limits, taking into account his or her training and experience. He/she refuses to intervene if he/she knows that he/she does not have the required skills.

Responsibility

In addition to the responsibilities defined by the common law, the psychologist has a professional responsibility. They shall ensure that their interventions comply with the rules of this Code. Within the framework of his professional competence, the psychologist decides on the choice and application of the psychological methods and techniques he designs and implements. He is therefore personally responsible for his choices and the direct consequences of his actions and professional opinions.

Probity

Psychologists have a duty of probity in all their professional relationships. This duty is the basis for observance of the rules of ethics and for the psychologist's continuous effort to refine his interventions, specify his methods and define his goals.

Scientific quality

The methods of intervention chosen by the psychologist must be explained in terms of their theoretical basis and their construction. Any evaluation or result must be the subject of a contradictory debate between the professionals.

Respect for the assigned goal

The methodological devices put in place by the psychologist respond to the reasons for his or her intervention, and to them alone. While designing his intervention in accordance with the assigned purpose, the psychologist must take into consideration the possible uses that may be made of it by third parties.

Professional Independence

Psychologists may not alienate the independence necessary for the practice of their profession in any form whatsoever. Conscience Clause

In all circumstances where the psychologist feels that he cannot respect these principles, he is entitled to invoke the conscience clause.

Title II - Professional practice

Chapter 1: The title of psychologist and the definition of the profession

Article 1

The use of the title of psychologist is defined by law n° 85-772 of 25 July 1985 published in the J.O. of 26 July 1985. Psychologists are persons who meet the qualification requirements of this law. Any form of usurpation of the title is liable to prosecution.

Article 2

The professional practice of psychology requires the title and status of psychologist.

Article 3

The fundamental mission of the psychologist is to ensure that the psychological dimension of the person is recognised and respected. His activity concerns the psychological component of individuals, considered individually or collectively.

Article 4

Psychologists may perform different functions as private practitioners, employees or public servants. They may carry out various tasks, which they distinguish and have distinguished, such as counselling, teaching of psychology, assessment, expertise, training, psychotherapy, research, etc. These missions can be carried out in various professional sectors.

Chapter 2: Conditions of practice of the profession

Article 5

Psychologists shall practise in the fields related to their qualifications, which shall be assessed, in particular, on the basis of their basic and applied high-level university training in psychology, specific training, practical experience and research work. He shall determine the indication and carry out the acts that fall within his competence.

Article 6

Psychologists shall ensure that the specific nature of their practice and their technical autonomy are respected. He respects those of other professionals.

Article 7

Psychologists shall accept assignments that they consider to be compatible with their skills, techniques and functions, and that do not contravene the provisions of this Code or the legal provisions in force.

Article 8

The fact that a psychologist is bound in his professional practice by a contract or statute to any private enterprise or public body does not alter his professional duties, and in particular his obligations concerning professional secrecy and independence in the choice of his methods and decisions. He shall refer to the Code of Ethics when drawing up his contracts and shall refer to it in his professional relations.

Article 9

Prior to any intervention, the psychologist shall ensure the consent of those who consult him or participate in an assessment, research or expertise. He shall inform them of the methods, objectives and limits of his intervention. The psychologist's opinions may concern files or situations reported to him. However, his assessment can only concern persons or situations that he has been able to examine himself. In all assessment situations, regardless of the applicant, the psychologist reminds the persons concerned of their right to request a counter-assessment. In research situations, he informs them of their right to withdraw at any time. In forensic situations, the psychologist deals fairly with each of the parties and is aware that the purpose of his mission is to shed light on the question put to him and not to provide evidence.

Article 10

The psychologist may receive, at their request, minors or adults protected by law. His intervention with them shall take account of their status, their situation and the legal provisions in force. When consultation for minors or adults protected by law is requested by a third party, the psychologist shall require their informed consent, as well as that of the holders of parental authority or guardianship.

Article 11

Psychologists must not use their position for personal purposes, proselytizing or alienating others. They must not respond to the request of a third party seeking an illicit or immoral advantage, or who uses their services under abusive authority. Psychologists shall not engage in assessment or treatment involving persons with whom they are already personally associated.

Article 12

Psychologists are solely responsible for their conclusions. He shall state the methods and tools on which he bases them and present them in an appropriate manner to his various interlocutors, so as to preserve professional secrecy. The persons concerned have the right to obtain a comprehensible account of the assessments concerning them, whoever the recipients are. When these conclusions are presented to third parties, they shall answer only the question asked and shall include the psychological elements on which they are based only if necessary.

Article 13

Psychologists may not use their position to support an illegal act, and their title does not exempt them from the obligations of the common law. In accordance with the provisions of the criminal law concerning failure to assist a person in danger, he is therefore obliged to report to the judicial authorities responsible for applying the law any situation that he knows to endanger the integrity of persons. In the particular case where confidential information indicates situations likely to harm the psychological or physical integrity of the person consulting him or that of a third party, the psychologist makes a conscious decision as to what action to take, taking into account the legal requirements concerning professional secrecy and assistance to persons in danger. Psychologists may inform their decision by taking advice from experienced colleagues.

Article 14

Documents issued by a psychologist (attestation, assessment, certificate, letter, report, etc.) must bear his name, the identification of his position and his professional address, his signature and the precise name of the recipient. Psychologists do not accept that anyone other than themselves modify, sign or cancel documents relating to their professional activity. He shall not allow his reports to be forwarded without his explicit consent, and he shall ensure that his correspondence is kept confidential.

Article 15

Psychologists shall be provided with suitable facilities at their place of practice, with adequate premises to ensure professional secrecy, and with sufficient technical means commensurate with the nature of their professional activities and the persons who consult them.

Article 16

In the event that the psychologist is prevented from continuing his work, he shall take appropriate measures to ensure the continuity of his professional activities by a colleague, with the agreement of the persons concerned, and provided that this new intervention is justified and ethically possible.

Chapter 3: Technical arrangements for professional practice

Article 17

The psychologist's practice is not limited to the methods and techniques he uses. It is inseparable from a critical appreciation and theoretical perspective of these techniques.

Article 18

The techniques used by the psychologist for assessment, for the direct purpose of diagnosis, orientation or selection, must have been scientifically validated.

Section 19

Psychologists must be aware of the relative nature of their assessments and interpretations. He shall not draw simplistic or definitive conclusions about the aptitudes or personality of individuals, particularly when such conclusions may have a direct influence on their lives.

Article 20

Psychologists shall be familiar with the legal and regulatory provisions of the Act of 6 January 1978 on information technology, files and freedoms. Consequently, he/she collects, processes, classifies, archives and keeps information and data relating to his/her activity in accordance with the provisions in force. When these data are used for teaching, research, publication or communication purposes, they are treated with absolute respect for anonymity, by removing any element that could directly or indirectly identify the persons concerned, always in compliance with the legal provisions concerning personal information.

Chapter 4: Duties of the psychologist towards colleagues

Article 21

Psychologists must support their colleagues in the practice of their profession and in the application and defence of this Code. They must respond favourably to their requests for advice and help them in difficult situations, particularly by contributing to the resolution of ethical problems.

Article 22

Psychologists shall respect the views and practices of their colleagues, provided that they do not contravene the general principles of this Code; this does not exclude justified criticism.

Article 23

Psychologists must not compete unfairly with their colleagues and must call on them if they consider that they are better able to respond to a request than they are.

Article 24

When psychologists perform an audit or expert assessment for colleagues or institutions, they do so in accordance with the requirements of their professional ethics.

Chapter 5: The psychologist and the dissemination of psychology

Article 25

Psychologists have a responsibility to disseminate psychology to the public and the media. He shall present psychology and its applications in accordance with the ethical rules of the profession. He shall use his right of correction to contribute to the seriousness of the information communicated to the public.

Article 26

Psychologists shall not go into detail about the psychological methods and techniques they present to the public, and shall inform the public of the potential dangers of uncontrolled use of these techniques.

Title III - Training of Psychologists

Chapter 1: Principles of training

Article 27

The teaching of psychology to future psychologists shall respect the ethical rules of the present Code. Accordingly, training institutions shall: disseminate the Code of Ethics for Psychologists to students at the beginning of their studies; ensure the existence of conditions that allow for the development of reflection on ethical issues related to the various practices: teaching and training, professional practice, and research.

Article 28

Teaching shall present the different fields of study in psychology, as well as the plurality of theoretical frameworks, methods and practices, with a view to putting them into perspective and critically comparing them. It shall necessarily banish indoctrination and sectarianism.

Article 29

The teaching of psychology shall include disciplines that contribute to knowledge of the human being and respect for his or her rights, in order to prepare students to address issues related to their future practice in accordance with available knowledge and ethical values.

Chapter 2: Training design

Article 30

The psychologist teaching psychology shall not participate in training courses that do not offer guarantees as to the seriousness of the aims and means. Psychology courses intended for the continuing education of psychologists may only involve persons with the title of psychologist. Psychology courses intended for the training of non-psychologists shall observe the same ethical rules as those set forth in Articles 27, 28 and 32 of this Code.

Article 31

Psychologists teaching psychology shall ensure that their practices, as well as academic requirements (research papers, professional internships, recruitment of subjects, etc.), are compatible with professional ethics. He/she shall handle information concerning students, acquired during teaching, training or internship activities, in compliance with the Articles of the Code concerning persons.

Article 32

Students are taught that psychological procedures concerning the assessment of individuals and groups require the utmost scientific and ethical rigour in their handling (caution, verification) and use (professional secrecy and duty of confidentiality), and that case presentations are made with respect for the freedom to consent or refuse, and the dignity and well-being of the persons presented.

Article 33

Psychologists supervising internships, both at the University and in the field, shall ensure that interns apply the provisions of the Code, particularly those relating to confidentiality, professional secrecy and informed consent. They oppose the use of interns as unpaid professionals. Their task is to train students professionally, not to interfere with their personality.

Article 34

In accordance with legal provisions, psychologists teaching psychology do not accept any remuneration from a person entitled to their services by virtue of their academic position. They do not require students to take extracurricular courses, whether paid or not, in order to obtain their degree. It does not treat students as patients or clients. It does not require them to participate in its other activities, whether free of charge or not, when these are not explicitly part of the training programme in which the students are engaged.

Article 35

The validation of knowledge acquired during initial training shall be carried out according to official procedures. It is based on the disciplines taught at the University, on the critical and self-evaluation skills of the candidates, and it requires reference to the ethical requirements and deontological rules of psychologists.

Code signed by the Association des Enseignants de Psychologie des Universités (AEPU), the Association Nationale des Organisations de Psychologues (ANOP), the Société Française de Psychologie (SFP) on 22 March 1996.

The present code of ethics for psychologists is taken from the website: http://www.sfpsy.org