Application: Specialty Guidelines and Ethical Codes

Note: The Application Assignment is to be completed before the Discussion question in Week 4.

Forensic psychology draws on the ethical codes and standards of the American Psychological Association to guide its professionals in ethical behavior in forensic settings. Due to the nature of forensic psychology and its intersection with the law, specialty guidelines for forensic psychology also are necessary.

American Psychology-Law Society's (AP-LS) "Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists'" often are described as an extension of the American Psychological Association's (APA) "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" also known as the "Ethics Code."

Many of the AP-LS Specialty Guidelines have their basis in specific items from APA's "Ethics Code." As you review each set of codes and guidelines take note of the connections between the APA's "Ethics Code" and their counterparts in AP-LS "Specialty Guidelines..." Ethical codes and guidelines are an important part of helping professions, such as forensic psychology.

To prepare for this assignment:

• Review the APA's "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" and the AP-LS' "Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists." Consider the relationship between the two sets of standards/guidelines.

• Consider why forensic psychology professionals might need specialty guidelines that are specific to forensic psychology.

• Select three of the AP-LS Specialty Guidelines, to consider and review in depth. Think about how and where they might be applied and/or relevant to forensic psychology professionals.

The assignment (1-2 pages):

• Explain the relationship between the APA's "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" and the AP-LS "Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists'."

• Briefly describe the three specialty guidelines you selected for this assignment (and cite its source) and provide concrete examples of where the guidelines might apply.

• Share an insight or draw a conclusion based on your exploration of APA and AP-LS codes and specialty guidelines ethical codes.
Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.

Discussion - Applying Specialty Guidelines

Note: The Application Assignment is to be completed before the Discussion question in Week 4.

In the Application Assignment, you reviewed the American Psychology-Law Society's "Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists,'" selected three, and gave examples of how they might be applied. Now you are asked complete a more in-depth exploration of Specialty Guidelines in order to better understand in which specific situation they might apply.

Specialty guidelines have both broad and specific elements not unlike other similar sets of professional guidelines. AP-LS Specialty Guidelines are both broad and specific so that they might be useful to individuals practicing in all areas under the forensic psychology umbrella. Some of the more specific guidelines may not be relevant to certain aspects of forensic psychology professional practice.

For example, someone who works solely on legal and legislative issues within forensic psychology may not be directly affected by specialty guidelines relevant to practitioners who have face-to-face contact with clients. How and where specialty guidelines apply depends on the specific professional role and setting of the forensic psychology professional.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review the article, "Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists'" thinking about how the guidelines might be applied in forensic settings by a forensic psychology professional.

• Consider why specialty guides are crafted specifically for use in the field of forensic psychology.

• Recall a specialty guideline that you used to complete the Application Assignment.

• Think about a situation in which the specialty guideline you selected might apply.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 5 a brief description of the specialty guideline you selected in your Application. Then describe a specific situation where it might apply and explain how. Be specific and use examples to illustrate your point. Explain why forensic psychology professionals might need specialty guidelines that are specific to their profession.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/FPSY/6145/04/mm/tumbler/content/fpsy6145_tumbler.html

Click on "More" for each box in order to review in detail the AP-LS code/guideline you selected. Now find the corresponding guideline in the APA box by using the up and down arrows. Review the code/guidelines within each rotating box.

Click the "Match" button to see if you are correct. If you did not get a correct match on the first try, you are encouraged to try again. Repeat this matching process until you have found each possible "Matched" box.

As you complete this matching exercise take note of the connections between the APA Code of Ethics and their counterparts in AP-LS Specialty Guidelines. Thinking about the connection between these two sets of codes/guidelines will help you as complete the Application Assignment for the week.

• Article: American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved from

http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx#

• Article: Specialty guidelines for forensic psychology. (2013). American Psychologist, 68(1), 7-19. doi:10.1037/a0029889 Retrieved from

https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/forensic-psychology.aspx

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