Transnational Ethical Guidance and the Development of the EFPA Meta-Code of Ethics

Abstract

Ethical practice is one of the fundamental characteristics of a profession. The development of common codes was an early aim of the European Federation of Professional Psychologists Associations (EFPPA), now the European Federation of Psychologists Associations (EFPA), which sought to develop common standards across Member Associations. This paper describes: the development of the Meta-Code of Ethics, approved in 1995; the subsequent review of its fitness for purpose, leading to the second edition in 2005; and other guidance on ethical practice, including procedures for the evaluation of alleged unethical practice and for determining corrective actions to be taken, including mediation. The success of the Meta-code is reviewed, including its contribution to current initiatives to develop universal ethical practice by psychologists, in the context of new challenges arising from developments within psychology and from changes within society, including concerns about national security.