Psychology Faculty Publications
Technology and Culture: Differences Between the APA and ACA Ethical Codes
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-5-2018
Journal Title
Current Psychology
ISSN
1936-4733
Volume
38
Issue
6
First Page
1410
Last Page
1416
DOI
10.1007/s12144-018-9874-y
Abstract
We conducted a section-by-section and line-by-line comparison of the ethical codes published by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA). Overall, 144 differences exist between the two codes and, here we focus on two constructs where 36 significant differences exist: technology and culture. Of this number, three differences were direct conflicts between the APA and ACA ethical codes’ expectations for technology and cultural behavior. The other 33 differences were omissions in the APA code, meaning that specific elements in the ACA code were explicitly absent from the APA code altogether. Of the 36 total differences pertaining to technology and culture in the two codes, 27 differences relate to technology and APA does not address 25 of these 27 technology differences. Of the 36 total differences pertaining to technology and culture, nine differences relate to culture and APA does not address eight of these issues.
Keywords
Ethics, ethical codes, American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, technology, culture
Recommended Citation
Firmin, Michael W.; DeWitt, Kristin; Shell, Aubrey L.; Smith, Lauren A.; and Zurlinden, Taylor E., "Technology and Culture: Differences Between the APA and ACA Ethical Codes" (2018). Psychology Faculty Publications. 217.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/psychology_publications/217