Our increasingly divisive and conflictual society and culture can benefit from the wisdom of the American Psychological Association’s Code of Ethics for both psychologists and perhaps the general public as well. The professional psychological community, although experts on human behavior and interpersonal relationships, are not immune to the difficulties in getting along with each other and have experienced significant conflicts and turmoil in recent years regarding several contentious topics. The purpose of this article is to highlight sections of the American Psychological Association’s Code of Ethics that professional psychology should keep in mind in navigating challenging times and offer others the opportunity to use the wisdom from the Code of Ethics to improve interpersonal interactions and relationships for everyone. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Impact Statement
The country and world seem to have lost their way when it comes to ethical, civil, and respectful discourse and engagement with those who have different viewpoints. The American Psychological Association’s Code of Ethics applies to psychologists, but the wisdom within it can be generalized beyond these professionals to the general public to encourage a better community and world for both psychologists and the public. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)