ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the ethical challenges faced by psychologists concerning issues of social justice that go beyond individual one-to-one work. The British Psychological Society (BPS) has published the Declaration on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion that sets out clearly the importance of addressing these wider social and political problems. At the same time the BPS Ethics Committee has widened the scope of its Code of Ethics and Conduct to include some reference to these contextual areas and has plans to develop its work more actively in the field of human rights. We include some discussion comparing the Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists, and the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights. Psychologists must pay attention to the enormous impact on the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities of social injustice. The chapter discusses these impacts where inclusion and exclusion are played out and how in research we need to carefully consider the way multiple characteristics that may lead to exclusion or discrimination can carefully be considered to ensure we only use non-oppressive approaches. The chapter also addresses the way we as psychologists are organised. Is the BPS itself living up to its own standards? An account of an audit undertaken of the Society's work by the Social Justice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force is reported and from this some pointers are set out for how the BPS might use the opportunity provided by the current restructuring to recalibrate and reset its culture so that it more actively takes account of social justice and human rights.
