Ethics, Psychologists' Practices, and Psychological Theory

Rosenzweig (1979) reports that the State University of New York at Albany in 1977 faced the threat of a fine of $US100 000 for violations to the state's Protection of Human Subjects law. In particular the University admitted failure to obtain proper consent from participants (in a series of psychological experiments), failure to fairly explain the risks involved, failure to have the experimental procedures reviewed by an institutional panel, and failure to have the experiments properly supervised. If that sort of law existed in this country I believe we would see many similar actions being brought to court. And I further believe that such treatment would be deserved. My own experience, gained since getting involved several years ago in matters of professional ethics, is that attempts to educate certain elements in one's profession are a waste of time. Legal proceedings are needed so that professional members are forced to focus on aspects of their conduct which violate basic human rights. Once that is achieved the process of education might be more profitably pursued.