Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2026
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities
Abstract
Perhaps the salient peculiarity of the American Psychological Association’s Code of Conduct is its virtually complete lack of prescriptive language—its aversion to binding terms and moral obligation. The code is very reluctant to tell psychologists what to do, though not reluctant to idealize what they already do. It plays right into the hands of the well-intentioned therapist who has no conception of him- or herself as a person capable of doing harm. Only in a utopia do people behave as they are supposed to, but without being subject to obligation or prohibition.
Rights
© 2026 Stewart Justman
Recommended Citation
Justman, Stewart, "Do Psychotherapists Harm?" (2026). Global Humanities and Religions Faculty Publications. 43.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/libstudies_pubs/43