Oppression, Privilege, Bias, Prejudice, and Stereotyping: Problems in the APA Code of Ethics

Abstract

The American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct places ethical obligations upon psychologists based on another’s “age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language or socioeconomic status.” This article explores 18 major problems with ethical prescriptions contained in the Ethical Code involving this phrase, including problems in clarity, inconsistency, comprehensiveness, its epistemic assumptions, and its impossibility for adherence, among others.

Keywords:

• APA ethical code
• cultural sensitivity
• ethnicity
• gender
• prejudice
• race
• sexual orientation