Which ethical principle states psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm?

Introduction

The role of individual members of the Korean Psychological Association (hereinafter referred to as the psychologists) is to expand their knowledge and to provide the knowledge and ability for the well-being of individuals and society through professional and scientific activities. This Korean Psychological Associations (KPAs) Code of Ethics (hereinafter, the Code of Ethics) defines the principles and standards that should be established in the course of performing these roles of psychologists.

It is psychologists duty to always endeavor to act with the utmost ethical responsibilities. Psychologists have an obligation to recognize the scope of their knowledge and ability on the basis of the professional and scientific activities as a psychologist, and have a duty to try to escape from the personal, social, economic, and political influence that may make them exploit or abuse their knowledge and ability.

Psychologist that act contrary to the Code of Ethics may be deprived of membership, or undergo suspension of membership, suspension of qualification (license), and loss of qualification (license) in accordance with the procedures set forth in the bylaws of the Korean Psychological Association. In addition, this measure may be notified to other organizations or individuals.

Chapter 1 Guidelines for the Implementation of the Code of Ethics

Chapter 2 General Ethics

1. Psychologists shall endeavor to improve mental and physical health of human beings.
2. Psychologists shall strive for the development of individuals and society.
3. Psychologists shall carry out tasks truthfully, honestly and accurately in the fields of academic research, teaching, assessment, and treatment.
4. Psychologists should be aware that their work could have an impact on society and humanity and, hence, perform their responsibilities as experts based on trust.
5. Psychologists shall use their best efforts to ensure that the results of their psychological research and service could be provided fairly to everyone who need them.
6. Psychologists respect the dignity and value of the human, as well as individuals rights to privacy and self-determination.

1. Psychologists effort should be continued in order to develop and maintain their skills and expertise.
2. Psychologists who are engaged in research and education shall pursue scientific knowledge in their professional fields, and should constantly strive to deliver it accurately.
3. Psychologists engaged in assessment and psychotherapy services should provide services within the scope of the specialized area of research and professional experience in which they received education, training, and supervision. If there is an emergency situation where urgent intervention is required but qualified psychologists are not available for consultation, a psychologist that is not qualified can provide a service, but the service shall terminate the moment a qualified psychologist is available to provide the service.
4. Psychologists who wish to provide services that require the knowledge and experience outside of their area of expertise should receive related education, training, and supervision.

1. Psychologists shall avoid delegating tasks to a person that has multiple relationships with the prospective clients/patients and is, thus, likely to exploit them or lose objectivity. (Refer to Article14, Multiple Relationships.)
2. Psychologists shall delegate the work to the people who have are considered to be competent in performing the work independently or under the supervision based on their education, training and experience.
3. Psychologists shall ensure that the delegated competently perform their duties.

1. Psychologists shall respect fellow psychologists and shall not make a criticism that is not based on the facts in regard to the work-related activities of the fellow psychologists.
2. Psychologists will work collaboratively with professionals in other fields of expertise while maintaining integrity and patience.
3. Psychologists shall provide the necessary knowledge and experience to students or trainees and not limit their responsibilities to tasks of dependent or subordinate nature only. (Refer to Article 13, Exploitative Relationships.)
4. Psychologists shall respect the characters of the participants during the course of research and not put them at risk and should take measures to ensure their safety and wellbeing. (Refer to Article 23, Responsibilities of the Research Participants.)
5. Psychologists shall form a trusting relationship with the client/patient and shall not have multiple or exploitative relationships with them. (Refer to Article 13, Exploitative Relationships, Article 14, Multiple Relationships.)

1. Being in multiple relationships means that psychologists are in a professional relationship with someone, while simultaneously in another role with that same person. This can be a risk factor to psychologists when they try to conduct their tasks in fair, objective, and efficient manner. Multiple relationships can also cause potentially harm to or exploitation of their counterparts. Hence, when multiple relationships occur psychologists should be careful.
2. Psychologists must be aware of and avoid the following multiple relationships that are risk factors to the performance of their tasks or can cause harm to the other party.
   • Being in teacher-student relationship and simultaneously in intimate personal relationship (Refer to Article 44, Sexual Relations with Students and Trainees).
   • Being in teacher-student relationship and simultaneously in therapist? client/patient relationship (Article 43 Mandating Individual Therapy and Group Therapy)
   • Belonging to the same institutions as teacher-student relationship, employment relationship, or hierarchical relationship of rank or position, and simultaneously being in direct financial relationship of therapist-client/patient in which the latter must pay the costs of supervision or treatment to the former.
   • Being in therapist - client/patient relationship and simultaneously in intimate personal relationship (Article 60, Sexual Intimacies with Clients/Patients)
   • Being in intimate personal relationships with the family member, close relatives or guardians of clients/patients while working as a therapist.
   • Other multiple relationships that are likely to cause harm to or risk exploitations of the person that the psychologists are in professional relationship with, or have the potential to impair the fairness of task performance.
3. Multiple relationships that do not harm to the other parties or are not risk factors to the task performance of psychologists are not unethical.
4. If psychologists find that they have formed potentially harmful multiple relationships due to unforeseen factors, they take proper measures and comply with the Code of Ethics, taking into account the interests of the people who would be affected.

• Cases where the efficiency, objectivity, and competence are undermined in performing their roles as psychologists.
• Cases where the individuals or organizations with whom the professional relationships exist may be harmed exploited.

1. Psychologists have a primary obligation to protect confidential information that they learned in the course of the research, teaching, assessment and treatment. The obligations of confidentiality should extend to the family members and colleagues of the person who revealed that confidential information. However, exceptions can be made for the psychologists and doctors who are involved in the counseling and treatment and the assistants who assisted them in the process, or the individuals to whom the clients/patients permitted the disclosure of confidential information. However, even in such cases, psychologists should strive to minimize the disclosure of real names.
2. The psychologist can disclose confidential information with the consent from the organizational clients, individual clients/patients or people who are legally authorized on behalf of, the clients/patients. This should be limited to professional research purposes and even in those cases, real names should not be revealed.
3. Confidential information can be exposed in a minimum level without the consent of the individuals, if mandated by law, or approved by law for the justifiable purposes as follows:
   • To provide necessary professional services
   • To obtain appropriate professional advice.
   • To protect clients/patients, psychologists, or other people from injury.
   • To collect fees for the services provided from clients/patients

1. Psychologist shall document all oral consent, permission, and approvals received by individuals in the course of research, teaching, assessment, and treatment.
2. Psychologist shall document and record their professional, scientific work for the following purposes:
   • To help future research, education, assessment and treatment by experts including themselves.
   • To replicate and verify research design and analysis.
   • To meet the institutional demands.
   • To ensure the accuracy of billing and payment.
   • To ensure compliance with laws
3. Psychologists should preserve and store documented records and data, and transfer all records and data when or if they resign from the position or practice.

1. Public statements include paid or free advertisements, product quality assurances, research grant applications, certification applications, various types of applications, brochures, printed matter, directory listings, personal resumes or curricula vitae, comments and reviews for mass media use, statements in legal proceedings, lectures, oral presentations and publications.
2. When psychologists make public comments or give public advice through lectures, TV programs, printed materials, the Internet or other media:
   • Psychologists shall state based on scientific evidence, professional knowledge, training or experience, (2) state based on facts, (3) be consistent with the Code of Ethics, and (4) make statements so that it does not give out the wrong impressions that there is a special relationship between the beneficiaries and the psychologists.
3. Psychologists shall not falsely state
   • the education, (2) career, (3) qualifications, (4) affiliations with research institutions or associations, (5) the kind of services they can provide (their areas of expertise), (6) the scientific and clinical basis for and the degree of accomplishment of the services they provide, (7) medical expenses, (8) achievements and research results.

• disseminate information about their jobs and expertise based on facts, using institution guidebooks, newsletters, media, and Internet
• attempt to contact patients/clients who have already received their treatments with the intention to help them
• seek out subjects in order to provide psychological assessment, counseling and treatment services as part of the community service.

Chapter 3 Research-related Ethics

• Psychologists should not discriminate against ideology, religion, age, gender, social class and cultural groups, and accept and recognize the academic achievements in their own rights.
• Psychologists shall be open to criticism of their researches, and continue to be skeptical about their knowledge.
• Psychologists shall have attitudes to correct their errors if convincing evidences have been found to refute their claims.
• Psychologists shall review new research issues, system of thoughts and approaches without prejudice.

• Psychologists respect the dignity and personality of research participants, as well as their rights to privacy and self-determination as individuals.
• Psychologist shall take measures to ensure the safety and welfare of study participants that might be exposed to the risk.
• Psychologist shall not give a psychological and physical damage to participants, and when participants show any signs of unexpected painful response, research should be put to a halt immediately.

1. The participation in research shall be determined by the free will of the participants. Thus, Psychologists should acquire consent from the participants regarding their participation in research.
   When Psychologists acquire consents from the participants, they shall inform them of the followings and provide them the opportunities to ask questions and hear the answers.
   • The purpose, expected duration, and procedures of the research
   • The rights to participate in the study or quit midway
   • The expected consequences when the participants refuse to participate in or withdraw from the study
   • Potential risks, dangers, pain and harmful effects that may be expected to have impacts on the willingness to participate
   • Benefits that are expected to be achieved by participating in the study
   • The limits of confidentiality
   • Possible compensations or benefits for participation.
2. Psychologists to perform intervention studies that include experimental treatments shall clearly inform participants of the following from the beginning of the research:
   • Nature of the experimental treatment
   • Services that will be available or unavailable to the control group
   • Methods with which to allocate to the treatment group or the control group
   • Treatment natives available in the case where individuals may not want to participate in the study or individuals may want to quit once the research has already begun
   • Compensation and monetary rewards for research participation.

• The content of the study is to conduct naturalistic observation in a public places, or that the recordings are not expected to be used to harm the individuals or disclose personal identities.
• The cases where deception is supposed to included in the research design and the consent for the use the recording should be obtained after the fact.

1. When Psychologists carry out research to those who are dependent on them, like their clients/patients, students, etc., they will take measures to eliminate harmful consequences in the case where the dependents refuse to participate or to quit.
2. If participation in the study is a course requirement or extra credit opportunity students should be allowed to have the options to choose native activities.

• The research is judged not to do harm or cause suffering.
  • Research performed in the education settings with respect to educational practices, curricula, or classroom management methods
  • Disclosure of the responses of the study participants would not place them at risk of civil or criminal liability or damage their financial status, employment prospects, or reputations, or the research is conducted in the forms of anonymous questionnaire, naturalistic observations or data collection study where confidentiality is protected
  • Research on a number of factors related to job or organizational efficiency, performed at the organizational settings and there is no risk to the employment prospects or confidentiality of the participants.
• The research is permitted by law or the institutional rules.

1. Psychologists shall compensate the appropriate amount for participation in research. Psychologists shall not offer improper or excessive financial or other compensations as to practically force people to participate in the research.
2. When professional services are provided as compensation for the participation, psychologists shall provide clear information about the risks, obligations, and limitations, as well as the nature of the services.

1. Psychologists shall not involve deception in research, except in the cases the deception method can be justified from the standpoint of scientific, educational, and applicable value, and for the cases where there are no other effective native procedures devoid of deception.
2. Psychologists shall be forthcoming about the information that may cause physical pain or severe emotional distress to those who participate in research.
3. Psychologists shall inform participants of the deception included in the experiment as soon as possible, preferably when their research participation is finished, or at least before the data collection is completed, so that participants may have the opportunity to withdraw their experiment data.

1. Psychologists shall provide the research participants with the opportunities to obtain information about the nature, findings and conclusions of the research insofar as they do not damage the scientific values and humane values.
2. Psychologists shall take measures to minimize the damage if they become aware that the research process has brought damages to the participants.

• Think carefully if there are native non-animal testing methods for research and then perform the research on animal subjects only if there is absolutely no other native.
• Animal experiments should be performed only for the purpose of obtaining scientific knowledge. It should be contemplated if the number and species of animals and experimental methods are appropriate for the research.
• Secure, care for, use, and handle the animals in accordance with current laws, regulations, and professional standards.
• Strive to minimize the pain, suffering, and injury of animal subjects.
• Only when native procedure is absolutely impossible, and only when justified by the purpose of scientific, educational, or applicable value, psychologists can use the procedures that expose animals to pain, stress, or deprivation situation.

1. Psychologists shall not manipulate data.
2. When the identities of the research subjects are identifiable from the data, psychologists shall report data after anonymizing them.
3. When psychologists discovered critical errors from the published data, psychologists shall take measures to rectify the errors using appropriate publication means such as correction, cancellation, and errata.

1. Psychologists are only responsible and accredited as an author for the studies they have conducted or they have contributed to.
2. With regard to order of the author or authors in article, psychologists shall accurately reflect authors relative contribution to the study, regardless of the hierarchic position. It is not justifiable for someone to become a co-author or the first author just because s/he possesses certain position. Small contributions to the study and publication can be acknowledged in footnote, introduction or acknowledgment sections as an expression of gratitude.
3. Except in exceptional circumstances, when an article stemmed from a masters thesis or a doctoral dissertation and involves several other co-authors, the relevant student shall be the first author.

1. After study results are released, other researchers may request the data for the purpose of verifying the results through reanalysis. Insofar as confidentiality of original research participants can be protected and there is no copyright issues banning the release of the data, psychologists shall provide the data.
2. Psychologists who received the data as described in the above item shall use the data just for those specific purposes. If they want to use the data for different purposes, they must obtain prior written consent.

Chapter 4 Ethics Related to Education and Training

1. Psychologists shall endeavor to deliver the scientific facts discovered by various psychological researches that have been performed from the past to the present in accurate and easily comprehensible manners.
2. Psychologists shall recognize the relationship between teachers and students, and shall reflect on themselves as to their roles, responsibilities and abilities as teachers.
3. Psychologists shall perceive their influence on students or trainees, and shall endeavor not to do harm their personalities.

1. Psychologists who open course shall provide information about the features of the course, the topics covered in the lectures, standards for grading, etc., in their syllabi. Also, psychologists should run the courses in accordance with the contents of the syllabi.
2. Psychologists who provide education and training programs shall specify the content of the program, purpose of training, participation fees, and qualifications (e.g. attendance, test, evaluation, etc.) for program completion certificate in the program guideline.

1. When psychologists evaluate the performance of the students who take their courses and trainees who are instructed by their supervision, they shall evaluate them timely in accordance with fair standards and provide feedback about the evaluation. Information about the performance evaluation criteria should be given to students or trainees at the beginning of the course or supervision.
2. When evaluating students and trainees, psychologist should evaluate actual performance against the individual criteria required by the program in accordance with evaluation standards.

1. Psychologists shall try not to fall into the multiple relationships that could be risk factors to the performance of their tasks and do harm to other people. Therefore, in the case where a professor evaluates or have the potential to evaluate the academic performance of the student, s/he shall not conduct direct therapy to the student (Refer to Article 14, Multiple Relationships).
2. If individual therapy or group therapy is a required course of training program or academic curriculum, psychologists shall allow students to receive therapy from other specialists who are not directly related to the program in order to avoid multiple relationships. However, an exception could be made for group therapy or counseling that is conducted for strict educational purposes and does not charge additional costs other than the tuition.

• The requirements are set forth in the program applications.
• The students personal problems interfere with the students own training activities and professional activities, and the student is considered to be a threat to the his/her own and to others, and it is judged that such personal information is required to help the student through necessary evaluation.

Chapter 5 Assessment-related Ethics

1. When describing opinions in letters of recommendation, reports, diagnostic statements and assessments including legal testimonies, psychologists should base their opinions on objective information or techniques that could support and prove the validity of their statements.
2. When stating opinions about the psychological characteristics of the individuals, psychologists should undergo a thorough examination process to support their statements. In spite of such efforts, if the examination is proven impractical, psychologists shall document the process and results of their efforts, state that the insufficient information may affect the reliability and validity of their own views, limit the nature and extent of the conclusions or recommendations.
3. In the case of reviewing data, providing consultation or supervision while individual examinations are not guaranteed, psychologists shall indicate that their opinions are not based on individual examination and present the source information with which to support their views.

1. Psychologists shall implement, adapt, score, interpret and use testing tools, interviews, and assessment techniques according to individual purposes.
2. Psychologists shall use assessment tools of which the validity and reliability have been proven. If this is not the case, they shall describe the advantages and limitations of the test results and interpretation.
3. Psychologist shall be objective, academically-grounded, sensitive, and conscientious in filling out and using the assessments.

1. The consent for assessment shall be obtained from the client in order to carry out evaluation and diagnosis. When psychologists ask for the assessment consent, they should inform about the nature and purpose of the evaluation, costs, and limits of confidentiality. In the following cases, however, the consent is not required.
   • Examination delegated by law
   • Examination is conducted as the routine educational, institutional, or organizational activities (e.g. job application).
2. Even to Individuals who may not have the capacity to consent, and to the persons whose examinations have been delegated by law, the nature and purpose of evaluation should still be informed.
3. Psychologists to use automated interpretation service which interprets the results of the examination shall obtain consent from clients/patients on the use of the automated interpreter. Psychologists shall also secure confidentiality of test results and describe the limitations of the data collected from recommendation letters, reports, and diagnostic and evaluative statements including the legal testimony.

1. When interpreting assessment results, psychologists consider the various test factors, which can reduce the accuracy of the interpretation, for example, the test-taking abilities or the linguistic and cultural differences of the examinees, and the circumstances that may affect the examinations.
2. The interpretation of the assessment results should be comprehensible to clients/patients in terms of its contents.

1. Psychologists shall not make assessments, intervention decisions and intervention recommendations using the test results that have elapsed a long period of time.
2. Psychologists shall not make assessments, intervention decisions and intervention recommendations based on old tests or test measures that are not currently in use or are not useful for the current purposes.

1. Psychologists who provide testing or scoring services to other psychologists shall accurately describe procedures, i.e. the purpose, norms, validity, reliability, and the application, and the qualifications that can be applied.
2. Psychologist should select scoring and interpretation services on the basis of the evidence for the validity of the program and procedures.
3. In the case where psychologists conduct, testing, scoring, interpretation themselves, or even when they use automated or other services, they shall still be held accountable for the proper application, interpretation, and use of assessment tools.

1. When client and examinee of the assessments or examinations are not identical, the examinee can view the assessment results upon clients consent.
2. Insofar as it is not judged harmful to the examinee health to view the examination reports, psychologists shall help the examinees view the reports upon their request.
3. If there is any case where assessment results should not be viewed, this fact should be notified to the examinees in advance.

Chapter 6 Treatment-related Ethics

1. Psychologists shall explain to the clients/patients the nature of the treatment and therapeutic procedures to obtain their consent. At this point, they must also inform clients/patients of the medical expenses, the limits of confidentiality and involvement of the third parties.
2. If there are risk factors, psychologists shall explain the risks and other native treatment methods.
3. In addition, psychologists should describe the treatment to the clients/patients in a manner and language that is suitable for the their ability and intelligence and should obtain their consents for treatment.
4. Psychologists should consider the preferences and best interests of clients/patients.

1. Psychologists shall not engage in sexual intimacies with any clients/patients with whom they are involved in therapeutic relationships.
2. Psychologists shall not engage in sexual intimacies with their clients/patients guardians, relatives, or significant others.
3. Psychologists shall not accept as clients/patients those whom they were sexually involved in the past.
4. Psychologists shall not engage in sexual intimacies with the patients/clients who were treated by them, for the duration of minimum three years after the termination of treatments. However, even after theree years, psychologists shall not engage in sexual intimacies with any of their former clients/patients , if it can be avoided.

1. Psychologists shall terminate treatment of clients/patients if psychological services are no longer needed, or if continued services do not help, but rather harm clients/patients health.
2. Psychologists may terminate treatment if they are threatened or put at risk by their clients/patients or by third parties that are related to the clients/patients.

1. Psychologists shall retain records relating to psychological services for at least ten years.
2. Psychologist, may transfer treatment records or a summary of the records to a different psychologist upon clients/patients consent for further treatment..
3. When psychologists retire or quit their practice, they may eliminate all retained records considering the minimum retention period of the records. Records can be transferred to the psychologists who will replace them only upon the clients/ patients consent.
4. At the time of the termination of treatment, psychologists may allow clients/patients to view their records insofar as the psychologists rights are not damaged.

1. Psychologists and clients/patients shall discuss and agree on the issues regarding the treatment costs as soon as possible.
2. Psychologists shall not provide false statements in regard to the treatment costs.
3. If the limits of the services are expected due to financial limitations, psychologists shall discuss this issue with the clients/patients as soon as possible.
4. In the case where the clients did not make the agreed payments and psychologists attempt to use legal means to receive the payments, psychologists shall give a notice to the clients so that they may be given the opportunities to pay as soon as possible.

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