SPSP ETHICS POLICY

ON HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, AND PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology prohibits unfair discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, or gender identity or expression, as well sexual harassment among individuals employed by the Society or serving the Society in elected or appointed positions in the Society. Sexual harassment consists of non-consensual sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature on or off campus, when: (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of an individual's employment or academic standing; or (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment decisions or for academic evaluation, grades, or advancement; or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating or hostile academic or work environment. Sexual harassment may be found in a single episode, as well as in persistent behavior.

Members of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology must conform to the ethical standards of the profession, as described in the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx?item=1).

Formal complaints about violations of the Society’s discrimination or sexual harassment standards by employees or representatives or violations of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct should be submitted in writing to the Executive Officer or, in the case of potential conflict of interest, to the President. When a formal complaint is received, a Responsible Conduct Review Panel will be convened to review the complaint, investigate, and, if warranted, recommend appropriate action by the Society. The Responsible Conduct Review Panel will consist of the President, President-Elect, Past-President, and Secretary-Treasurer, with the Executive Officer serving ex officio. The action taken by the Society will depend upon the nature and severity of the violation of the Society’s policy. The Panel may appoint up to two addition ad hoc members from the membership of the Society who bring particular expertise to case, or to replace another member should there be conflict of interest. The determination of whether violations of the standards and codes of the society and recommended action for a case will be determined by majority votes of the Panel.

Adopted 1/20/13