The document summarizes the Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists. It begins with definitions of ethics and why codes of ethics are important for professions. It then provides a brief history of how the Philippine code was created based on international codes and contextualized for the local context. The code is based on four universal principles: respect for dignity, competent caring, integrity, and professional/scientific responsibilities. It outlines general ethical standards and procedures, as well as specific standards for assessment, therapy, education/training, and research. The goal is to provide trusted services, establish principles to work by, and procedures for monitoring adherence.

1. Code of Ethics for
Philippine Psychologists
Based on “Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists” by the PAP and
The Scientific and Professional Ethics Committee (2008-2009) and The
Psychology Bill of 2009, R.A. 10029
By Russell Resti L. de Villa
A Report for the subject Current Trends In
Psychology

2. Before we begin.
What’s Ethics?

3. A Little definition before we start…
Ethics is simply known as moral
philosophy, a branch of philosophy that
addresses questions about morality—that
is, concepts such as good and evil, right
and wrong, virtue and vice, justice, etc.

4. WHY DO WE NEED A ‘CODE OF
ETHICS’??
So, okay, we get the definition, but…

5. Here’s why:
From an article written by David Hildebrand entitled ‘Why
do we need a code of ethics?’, he explains that:
As members of a profession, we have an important
role in society as trusted experts. In this role, we have a
duty to maintain the highest standards of professionalism
in our work, while acting in the public interest.
Codes of ethics should set members apart from
others, who may purport to provide similar services to the
public, by establishing a set of principles by which to work.
However, in order for the code to have merit and respect,
it must contain procedures for monitoring the members'
adherence and for disciplining those members who act in
breach of the standards.

6. THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PHILIPPINE
PSYCHOLOGISTS
(SUMMARIZED)
BASED FROM “CODE OF ETHICS FOR PHILIPPINE PSYCHOLOGISTS”
BY THE PAP AND THE SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS COMMITTEE (2008-2009)
That done, we go on to…

7. A brief history on how it was made
The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP)
adopted a Code of Ethics for Clinical Psychologists in the 1980s,
and this Code has remained unchanged since then. In 2007,
the Board of Directors of the PAP resolved to constitute a
committee to revise the code of ethics, with the goal of
updating the code and making it more inclusive and applicable
to all psychologists.
The committee chair and the assistants undertook the
preparatory work which involved studying the old Code, and
several documents related to ethical standards for
psychologists (e.g., the Universal Declaration of Ethical
Principles for Psychologists, the ethics codes of the American
Psychological Association, the British Psychological Society, the
Canadian Psychological Society, among others)

8. A brief history on how it was made
The complete committee conducted a day-long
workshop on February 27, 2009 to finalize the proposed
Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists. The committee
was strongly influenced by existing codes from other
countries (which is reflected in the scope and structure of
the Code), but worked hard to ensure that the code was
contextualized with the realities and constraints within the
professional environments that Philippine psychologists do
their work.
The first draft of this Code was presented to the PAP
Board of Directors on April 18, 2009. This draft was further
revised (with the editorial assistance of Reginal Bueno), and
finally ratified by the PAP Board of Directors on July 24,
2009.

9. Declaration of Principles
Psychologists in the Philippines adhere to
the following Universal Declaration of Ethical
Principles for Psychologists that was adopted
unanimously by the General Assembly of the
International Union of Psychological Science in
Berlin on July 22, 2008 and by the Board of
Directors of the International Association of
Applied Psyc.hology in Berlin on July 26, 2008

10. What is the “Universal Declaration of
Ethical Principles for Psychologists”?
In 2002, the General Assembly of the International
Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) approved a
motion to create an Ad Hoc Joint Committee and for
that committee to develop a universal declaration of
ethical principles for psychologists.
The focus of this international initiative is on
articulating principles and values that provide a
common moral framework for psychologists
throughout the world, and that can be used as a moral
justification and guide for the development of differing
standards as appropriate for differing cultural contexts.

11. PREAMBLE
Ethics is at the core of every discipline.
The Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for
Psychologists speaks to the common moral
framework that guides and inspires psychologists
worldwide toward the highest ethical ideals in their
professional and scientific work. Psychologists are
committed to placing the welfare of society and its
members above the self-interest of the discipline and
its members. They recognize that adherence to ethical
principles in the context of their work contributes to a
stable society that enhances the quality of life for all
human beings.

12. PREAMBLE
The significance of the Universal Declaration
depends on its recognition and promotion by
psychology organizations at national, regional
and international levels. Every psychology
organization is encouraged to keep this
Declaration in mind and, through teaching,
education, and other measures to promote
respect for, and observance of, the Declaration’s
principles and related values in the various
activities of its members.

13. PRINCIPLE I
Respect for the Dignity of Persons and Peoples
Respect for the dignity of persons is the most
fundamental and universally found ethical principle
across geographical and cultural boundaries, and
across professional disciplines. It provides the
philosophical foundation for many of the other ethical
principles put forward by professions. Respect for
dignity recognizes the inherent worth of all human
beings, regardless of perceived or real differences in
social status, ethnic origin, gender, capacities, or other
such characteristics. This inherent worth means that all
human beings are worthy of equal moral consideration.

14. PRINCIPLE I
Respect for the Dignity of Persons and Peoples
THEREFORE, psychologists accept as fundamental the Principle of
Respect for the Dignity of Persons and Peoples. In so doing, they accept
the following related values:
a) respect for the unique worth and inherent dignity of all human beings;
b) respect for the diversity among persons and peoples;
c) respect for the customs and beliefs of cultures, to be limited only
when a custom or a belief seriously contravenes the principle of respect
for the dignity of persons or peoples or causes serious harm to their
well-being;
d) free and informed consent, as culturally defined and relevant for
individuals, families, groups, and communities;
e) privacy for individuals, families, groups, and communities;
f) protection of confidentiality of personal information, as culturally
defined and relevant for individuals, families, groups, and communities;
g) fairness and justice in the treatment of persons and peoples.

15. PRINCIPLE II
Competent Caring for the Well-Being of Persons
and Peoples
Competent caring for the well-being of persons and
peoples involves working for their benefit and, above all,
doing no harm. It includes maximizing benefits, minimizing
potential harm, and offsetting or correcting
harm. Competent caring requires the application of
knowledge and skills that are appropriate for the nature of
a situation as well as the social and cultural context. It also
requires the ability to establish interpersonal relationships
that enhance potential benefits and reduce potential harm.
Another requirement is adequate self-knowledge of how
one's values, experiences, culture, and social context might
influence one's actions and interpretations.

16. PRINCIPLE II
Competent Caring for the Well-Being of Persons
and Peoples
THEREFORE, psychologists accept as fundamental the Principle of Competent
Caring for the Well-Being of Persons and Peoples. In so doing, they accept the
following related values:
a) active concern for the well-being of individuals, families, groups, and
communities;
b) taking care to do no harm to individuals, families, groups, and communities;
c) maximizing benefits and minimizing potential harm to individuals, families, groups,
and communities;
d) correcting or offsetting harmful effects that have occurred as a result of their
activities;
e) developing and maintaining competence;
f) self-knowledge regarding how their own values, attitudes, experiences, and social
contexts influence their actions, interpretations, choices, and recommendations;
g) respect for the ability of individuals, families, groups, and communities to make
decisions for themselves and to care for themselves and each other.

17. PRINCIPLE III
Integrity
Integrity is vital to the advancement of
scientific knowledge and to the maintenance
of public confidence in the discipline of
psychology. Integrity is based on honesty, and
on truthful, open and accurate
communications. It includes recognizing,
monitoring, and managing potential biases,
multiple relationships, and other conflicts of
interest that could result in harm and
exploitation of persons or peoples.

18. PRINCIPLE III
Integrity
THEREFORE, psychologists accept as fundamental the Principle
of Integrity. In so doing, they accept the following related values:
a) honesty, and truthful, open and accurate communications;
b) avoiding incomplete disclosure of information unless complete
disclosure is culturally inappropriate, or violates confidentiality, or
carries the potential to do serious harm to individuals, families,
groups, or communities;
c) maximizing impartiality and minimizing biases;
d) not exploiting persons or peoples for personal, professional, or
financial gain;
e) avoiding conflicts of interest and declaring them when they
cannot be avoided or are inappropriate to avoid.

19. PRINCIPLE IV
Professional and Scientific Responsibilities to Society
Psychology functions as a discipline within the
context of human society. As a science and a
profession, it has responsibilities to society. These
responsibilities include contributing to the
knowledge about human behavior and to persons’
understanding of themselves and others, and using
such knowledge to improve the condition of
individuals, families, groups, communities, and society.
They also include conducting its affairs within society in
accordance with the highest ethical standards, and
encouraging the development of social structures and
policies that benefit all persons and peoples.

20. PRINCIPLE IV
Professional and Scientific Responsibilities to
Society
THEREFORE, psychologists accept as fundamental the Principle of Professional
and Scientific Responsibilities to Society. In so doing, they accept the following
related values:
a) the discipline’s responsibility to increase scientific and professional knowledge in
ways that allow the promotion of the well-being of society and all its members;
b) the discipline’s responsibility to use psychological knowledge for beneficial
purposes and to protect such knowledge from being misused, used incompetently,
or made useless;
c) the discipline’s responsibility to conduct its affairs in ways that are ethical and
consistent with the promotion of the well-being of society and all its members;
d) the discipline’s responsibility to promote the highest ethical ideals in the scientific,
professional and educational activities of its members;
e) the discipline’s responsibility to adequately train its members in their ethical
responsibilities and required competencies;
f) the discipline’s responsibility to develop its ethical awareness and sensitivity, and
to be as self-correcting as possible.

21. GENERAL ETHICAL STANDARDS AND
PROCEDURES
We subscribe to the following general ethical
standards and procedures as we conduct ourselves in the
various aspects of our professional and scholarly
activities as psychologists. These general standards and
procedures refer to:
I. Resolving Ethical Issues
II. Competencies
III. Human relations
IV. Confidentiality
V. Advertisements and Public Statements
VI. Records and Fees

22. I. Resolving Ethical Issues
A. Misuse of Psychologist’s Works
B. Conflicts between Ethics and Law, Regulations or
other Governing legal Authority
C. Conflicts between Ethics and Organizational
Demands
D. Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations
E. Reporting Ethical Violations
F. Cooperating with Ethics Committee
G. Improper Complaints
H. Unfair Discrimination Against Complainants and
Respondents

23. II. Competencies
A. Boundaries of Competence
B. Providing Services in Emergencies
C. Maintaining Competence
D. Bases for Scientific and Professional
Judgments
E. Delegation of Work to Others
F. Personal Problems and Conflicts

24. III. Human Relations
A. Unfair Discrimination
B. Sexual Harassment
C. Other Harassment
D. Avoiding Harm
E. Multiple Relationships
F. Conflict of Interest
G. Third-Party Requests for Services
H. Exploitative Relationships
I. Cooperation with Other Professionals
J. Informed Consent
K. Psychological Services Delivered To or Through Organizations
L. Interruption of Psychological Services

25. IV. Confidentiality
A. Maintaining Confidentiality
B. Limitations of Confidentiality
C. Recording
D. Minimizing Invasions of Privacy
E. Disclosures
F. Consultation
G. Use of Confidential Information for Other
Purposes

26. V. Advertisements and Public
Statements
A. Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements
B. Public Statements
C. Workshops, Seminars and Non-Degree-
Granting Educational Programs
D. Media Presentations
E. Testimonials

27. VI. Records and Fees
A. Documentation and Maintenance of
Records
B. Confidentiality of Records
C. Withholding Client Records
D. Fees and financial arrangements

28. Ethical Standards And Procedures in
Specific Function
We subscribe to the following ethical
standards and procedures related to the
following specific functions of psychologists:
psychological assessment, therapy, education
and training, and research.

29. VII. Assessment
A. Bases for Assessment
B. Informed Consent in Assessment
C. Assessment Tools
D. Obsolete and Outdated Test Results
E. Interpreting Assessment Results
F. Release of Test Data
G. Explaining Assessment Results
H. Test Security
I. Assessment by Unqualified Persons
J. Test Construction

30. VIII. Therapy
A. Confidentiality
B. Informed Consent
C. Client’s Wellbeing
E. Record Keeping
F. Competent Practice
G. Working with Young People
H. Referrals
I. Interruption
J. Termination

31. IX. Education and Training
A. Design of Education and Training Programs
B. Descriptions of Education and Training
Programs
C. Accuracy in Teaching
D. Student Disclosure of Personal Information
E. Mandatory Individual or Group Therapy
F. Assessing Student and Supervisee Performance
G. Sexual Relationships with Students and
Supervisees

32. X. Research
A. Rights and Dignity of Participants
B. Informed Consent to Research
C. Informed Consent for Recording Voices and
Images in Research
D. Research Participation of Client, Students and
Subordinates
E. Dispensing with Informed Consent for Research
F. Offering Inducements for Research Participation
G. Deception in Research
H. Debriefing

33. X. Research
I. Observational Research
J. Humane Care and Use of Animals in Research
K. Reporting Research Results
L. Plagiarism
M. Publication Credit
N. Duplicate Publication of Data
O. Sharing Research Data for Verification
P. Reviewers
Q. Limitations of the Study

34. Additional discussions…
Not done yet!

35. Thank you Very Much for
Listening!
Hope you learned something today! :D