Summary

Adopted in 2008 by the International Union of Psychological Science [IUPSYS], the third draft of the Universal Declaration "speaks to the common moral framework that guides and inspires psychologists worldwide toward the highest ethical ideals in their professional and scientific work" (IUPSYS, 2008). It was the result of "comparisons... among existing codes of ethics for psychologists from around the world to identify commonalities in ethical principles and values" (Gauthier, 2008).
The document outlines four major principles: respect for the dignity of persons and people, which recognizes both individual and social identity; competent caring for well-being, which emphasis the need for care and concerns, the responsibility to do no harm, and the need to have and develop the needed skills and knowledge; integrity, which requires honesty, openness and non-exploitation; and responsibility to society, which includes the requirement to develop new knowledge.
It is intended to be less prescriptive and more aspirational, something the authors recommend societies keep in mind (Gauthier, 2008). In building on the Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists, the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA, 2017) noted that it "is not a code of ethics; rather, it is intended to provide a template or ethical framework to guide the development and evolution of psychology ethics codes around the world."

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