Conflicts of Interests Principles
Adopted as APA Policy by APA Council of Representatives in February 2017
Statement of Responsibility of APA Members
Conflict of Interests
A COI is any financial interest or substantial benefit that impedes or might impede an APA member, serving on an APA group or otherwise, from acting in the best interest of the APA.
1. Financial Benefit to Self or Someone Professionally or Personally Close
A. An APA member has a COI if the member while exercising decision-making authority stands to gain financially from the decision. A voting member of any APA Group whose responsibilities include compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the APA for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
B. An APA member has a potential COI if the member's decision could result in financial benefit to a professionally or personally close third party.
2. Substantial Benefit to Self or Someone Professionally or Personally Close
A. An APA member has a COI if the member while exercising decision-making authority stands to gain from increased positional status (e.g., a promotion or public recognition) that could result in increased compensation or remuneration for the member from the decision.
B. An APA member has a COI when the member while exercising decision-making authority could impact the relationship of a person with whom the member has a close professional or personal relationship. A COI also exists if the member’s decision could result in any personal or professional advantages for the individual with whom the member has a close personal relationship.
3. Cross-organizational Role Conflicts
A cross-organizational role COI exists when an APA member's decision-making role has a direct or indirect influence on another organization within which the APA member has a vested interest, or within which another person with whom the APA member has a close professional or personal relationship has a vested interest.
A cross-organizational role COI exists when a member who has the capacity to influence decision-makers of the APA has a relationship with another organization that can be directly or indirectly affected by the APA’s decision.
4. Additional Benefits or Impacts
An APA member has a COI when the APA member, implicitly or explicitly, threatens adverse action against, or promises a benefit to, another member (or to a person with whom the other member has a close professional or personal relationship) whose decision could be influenced by the threat or promise.
Promises may include future financial benefit, or access to participation in other groups. Threats may include marginalization of participation in other groups, filing allegations of ethical violations, or threats of legal actions.