IAAP Ethics

History of the Ethics Committee

IAAP Committee on Ethics was formed in 2004 with Janel Gauthier as the first Chair of the Committee. Alfred Allan became Chair in 2014. 

Committee Members

Alfred Allan, Chair, Australia
Andrea Ferrero, Argentina
Carole Sinclair, Canada
Janel Gauthier, Canada
Mark Leach, United States
Usha Kiran Subba, Nepal

Division 10: Psychology, Law, & Ethics

Purpose and Function of the Ethics Committee 

The Ethics Committee was established as an IAAP standing committee by the IAAP Board in 2004 with Janel Gauthier as its first Chair.  Alfred Allan became Chair in 2014. Its purpose is twofold:

•  to promote ethical conduct, awareness, and thinking among Association members and,
•  to provide consultation and advice to the IAAP Board on ethical issues and related matters.

The Committee fulfills its purpose by: (a) promoting the Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists, (b) developing and/or providing educational ethics resources for members, (c) developing and refining ethical guidelines and policies as needed, and (d) providing consultations, opinions, and/or recommendations to the Board regarding Association-related ethical issues.

The Committee does not review complaints of alleged ethical conduct against Association members. 

Internal Terms of Reference

Resources

Professional Associations of Psychology Around the World

National and Regional Ethics Codes and Frameworks

Global Developments in Ethics

Relevant to Psychology

Australia

The Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), which since 2010 regulates psychologists in Australia, recently published a Code of Conduct.  The PsyBA will use the code to regulate all Australian psychologists from December 1, 2025. The code will co-exist with the Australian Psychological Society’s (APS) Code of Ethics, which the APS as a professional body will use to govern its members.

United States

The Ethics Code Task Force (ECTF) of the American Psychological Association has been developing an updated Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. A draft of the code went out for a 90-day public comment period which closed March 19, 2025, which will be followed by a series of upcoming revisions. The current draft is comprised of four components: an introduction, eight principles, a section on the relationship between the principles and standards, and ten sections of standards. The draft is designed to be more expansive than the current code by also highlighting groups, organizations and communities, and is directed toward psychologists in all professional settings. New and emerging areas are included such as a section on technology and individual standards in areas such as international research, interdisciplinary responsibilities, self-assessments, digital health research, and third-party observation of testing, among others. The ECTF welcomes comments during the public comment period.

Early Career Marathon Presentations on Ethics

Mark Leach - 2025 ECM

Alfred Allan - 2022 ECM

Janel Gauthier - 2021 ECM