International Contributions of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists: Voices from Abroad.

Jean L. Pettifor University of Calgary Alfred Allan Edith Cowan University Fred Seymour University of Auckland Ann D. Watts Psychological Society of South Africa, Capetown, South Africa Andrea Ferrero San Luis University Laura Hernandez-Guzman Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico An-Magritt Aanonson and Torleiv Odland Norsk Psykologforening Yesim Korkut Bahcesehir University Kenneth Pope Norwalk, Connecticut In this article, eight psychologists from different parts of the world (Argentina, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States) comment on the international significance of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. The most common themes expressed about the Canadian Code were the value of the foundational moral framework, the value-based ethical decision-making model, the positive aspirational focus, and the conceptual clarity. The Code that was developed nationally for Canadian psychologists 25 years ago is now acclaimed internationally. In a troubled and globalizing world, the need for strong worldwide humanizing ethical principles has never been greater. Keywords: CPA Code, international, psychology Work on the development of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (Canadian Psychological Association, 1986, 1991, 2000) was motivated by a need to serve Canadian psychologists. By the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, through publications and presentations at international conferences, many psychology organisations outside Canada (and sometimes members of other professions) became aware of the then-new Canadian Code. Those in the process of developing or revising their own codes began to consider and evaluate the Code as part of that process. In a 1998 Special Issue of Canadian Psychology regarding the Code, comments by psychologists from the following countries were included: the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations, Geoff Lindsay; Ireland, Richard Booth: New Zealand, Brian Dixon; and South Africa, Doug Wassenaar. Today, entering the second decade of the 21st Century, not only has the Code received continuing international attention and acclaim, but new ethical issues on the world stage have surfaced. Such issues range from questions about the use of computer technology to the consequences of internationalization and globalization. In the current Special Issue, commentaries by psychologists from around the globe have again been included, each reflecting on the significance of the Canadian Code on psychologists' ability to meet these new ethical challenges. Several themes appear throughout the following commentaries. First, the most valued contribution of the Canadian Code appears to be the formulation of an explicit moral framework or foundation of ethical principles that are defined separately but linked to specific conduct and behaviours. The second theme seems to be the delineation in the Code of a process for value-based decisionmaking in contrast to an emphasis on complying only with rules about what psychologists must or must not do. It is recognised that rules cannot cover all possible situations, and especially cannot be used to negotiate solutions to dilemmas. The third valued contribution is the emphasis in the Code on positive aspirations rather than on the bottom line for acceptable behaviour. Fourth is the conceptual clarity, user-friendly language, and practical approach, which are thought to enhance the effectiveness of teaching, supervising, and learning ethics and ethical decision-making. References Canadian Psychological Association. (1986). A Canadian code of ethics for psychologists. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Author. Canadian Psychological Association. (1991). Canadian code of ethics for psychologists. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Author. Canadian Psychological Association. …