Which ethical guideline ensures the protection from physical and psychological damage?

The guideline that specifically ensures protection from physical and psychological damage is the principle of protection from harm. This ethical standard is crucial in research and applied psychology as it mandates that participants must be safeguarded from any form of injury or distress that may arise during the study. This includes not only physical harm but also psychological distress, ensuring that the emotional and mental well-being of participants is prioritized.

This principle serves as a foundational safeguard for ethical research, requiring psychologists and researchers to carefully assess the potential risks associated with their studies. They are obligated to design their research methods in ways that minimize risks and implement procedures to address any psychological impacts that might occur. By adhering to this guideline, researchers uphold the integrity of their work while fostering a safe environment for participants, which is essential for maintaining public trust in psychological research.

While respect relates to the autonomy and dignity of participants, justice pertains to fairness and equitable procedures in the treatment of participants, and beneficence focuses on the obligation to promote the well-being of individuals, none of these specifically encapsulate the comprehensive protection from harm as explicitly stated in the guideline on protection from harm. Each aspect plays a role in ethical research, but the specialized attention to avoiding physical and psychological damage is uniquely addressed by the protection from harm guideline.