Practical Ethics for Psychologists: A Positive Approach

Guided by the American Psychological Association’s “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct,” this book illustrates how psychologists can actualize their ethical acumen in their daily work.

Truly ethical behavior requires more than simply avoiding action by a disciplinary body. For psychologists, behaving ethically is a positive goal that involves striving to reach our highest ethical ideals. Knapp, VandeCreek, and Fingerhut provide short sketches illustrating the standards that psychologists must follow, and show how psychologists can actualize their personal values and ethical acumen in their daily work. The authors discuss a variety of ethically tricky areas for psychologists, including patient confidentiality, inappropriate relationships with patients, financial issues, informed consent, and forensic and legal issues. Readers will learn how to attend to their emotional well-being, how to use risk-reduction strategies as well as a five-step decision-making model for difficult ethical quandaries, and how to base their professional conduct on overarching ethical values.

This third edition of Practical Ethics for Psychologists includes new findings on the science of morality and recommendations for working with morally diverse clients, and covers ethical issues regarding the use of social media and other online communications.

Samuel Knapp, EdD, ABPP, is the director of professional affairs for the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. He has written or edited 16 books and about 100 articles and made almost 400 professional presentations on ethics and other professional issues. He was the editor-in-chief of the APA Handbook of Ethics in Psychology (2012). He holds a diplomate in counseling psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology, and he is a fellow of APA, Division 31 (State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs).

Leon D. VandeCreek, PhD, ABPP, is professor emeritus in the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University. He has authored or edited more than 20 books and about 200 articles and professional presentations. He was an associate editor of the APA Handbook of Ethics in Psychology (2012). He holds a diplomate in clinical psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology, and he is a fellow of several divisions of APA. In 2005, he served as president of APA Division 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy).

Randy Fingerhut, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at La Salle University and the director of La Salle University's PsyD program in clinical psychology. Dr. Fingerhut is a fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and has been practicing cognitive–behavioral therapy as a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania for more than 15 years. His research interests include perinatal mood anxiety disorders and self-care for graduate students. Dr. Fingerhut has taught ethics within La Salle's doctoral program and has presented workshops on ethical decision making for the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.