Nine unique features of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists.

Abstract

Abstract In addition to its wide use in Canada, the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists has captured interest in the international community. This article explores nine features of the Code that are somewhat unique and may explain, at least in part, this interest: (a) setting objectives based on a critical analysis of the international and interdisciplinary literature on codes of ethics; (b) inclusion of an overriding ethic of a contract with society; (c) use of an empirical methodology in developing the Code, (d) organization of the Code around four ethical principles; (e) differential weighting of the four ethical principles; (f) inclusion of a model for ethical decision making; (g) inclusion of a role for personal conscience; (h) inclusion of both minimum and idealized standards; and (i) presentation of the Code as an umbrella document. The thinking behind each feature is presented, including reasons for some changes to the 1991 version of the Code.Do Canadian psychologists have a unique approach to ethics? The Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists was first adopted by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) in 1986, with a revised version adopted in 1991. Over the past decade, the Code and several of its features seem to have caught the interest of other disciplines and the international community of psychologists (e.g., Biersdorff, 1996; Booth, 1996; Lindsay, 1996; MacFarlane, 1996; Rush, 1994): This article outlines and discusses nine features that, in the experience of the author, seem to be viewed as unique and to have generated the most interest and comment.First: Setting Objectives Based on a Critical Analysis of the International and Interdisciplinary Literature on Codes of EthicsThe CPA's early decisions about the development of a Canadian code of ethics, including decisions to adopt various versions of the American Psychological Association's (APA) code, are discussed in detail elsewhere (Sinclair, 1993; Sinclair, Poizner, Gilmour-Barrett, & Randall, 1987; Sinclair, Simon, & Pettifor, 1996). Although CPA archival records indicate that discussions about a made-in-Canada code began soon after the Second World War (Dunbar, 1992), these discussions did not lead to a successful outcome until 1986. Several factors appear to have contributed to this delay. One major problem was that, during its early years, Canadian psychologists numbered only a few hundred. Another problem was that Canada is a land mass of about 8000 kilometres from coast-to-coast. As a result, it was difficult to find sufficient resources to bring Canadian psychologists together frequently enough to carry out the work needed. In addition, the APA had produced a code that was well respected internationally (Bloom, 1964; Bondy, 1959; Pacaud, 1954) and seen by Canadian psychologists to be relevant to Canadian psychology. Although there was evidence of periodic discontent by CPA members with the APA code, it was not until the 1979 revision that the discontent became serious and the development of a Canadian code of ethics began in earnest (Sinclair et al., 1996).One advantage of the CPA's development of a code of ethics later than many other groups was that an extensive literature had developed on the purposes, strengths, and weaknesses of such codes. Based on a critical analysis of this literature (Sinclair et al, 1987), the CPA set four objectives for its new code of ethics: 1. To be conceptually cohesive and thereby a more effective educational tool. 2. To be more inclusive of recently developed areas of practice. 3 To give more explicit guidelines for action when ethical principles are in conflict. 4. To reflect explicitly the most useful decision rules (ethical principles) for ethical decision making.The first objective was connected to one of the most frequently cited purposes of ethics codes; namely, to socialize new members into the values and norms of a discipline. …