Technology and culture: Differences between the APA and ACA ethical codes

• Published in: Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 1410 - 1416
• Main Authors: Firmin, Michael W., DeWitt, Kristin, Shell, Aubrey L., Smith, Lauren A., Zurlinden, Taylor E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2019; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Associations, institutions, etc; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Codes; Professional ethics; Psychology; Social Sciences; Societies; Technology and civilization; American counseling association; Ethics; American Psychological Association; Technology; Culture; Ethical codes
• ISSN: 1046-1310; 1936-4733
• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-018-9874-y

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.