Thunderbolts Forum v3.0

It is not uncommon for us to encounter articles, papers, and news reports which involve results from various types of cognitive tests.

There are so-called intelligence tests, psychological tests, personality tests, and cognitive tests which would seem to give a kind of metric on personality traits, well-being and professional performance of individuals, from across the human lifespan and in various stages of health.

What can get lost in the fray is the rights of the individual. You have a right to both informed consent and to privacy.

When an office gives you a series of questions, remember that it is illegal for anyone to give you a psychological test without your consent. It is also illegal for anyone to disclose the results of a psychological test given to an individual.

These questions are important to revisit often, because we see science papers actually diagnosing people with psychological conditions based on behaviors or opinions that diverge from a current norm. We also see young people being labeled and medicated with all manner of psychological conditions, based on a few behavioural symptoms. There is no physical test for ADHD, Autism, bipolar disorder, sociopathology, etc.. Yet these labels can remain on a person's health record for the rest of their lives. For example, a young person given a diagnosis of ADHD in childhood can be denied opportunities in the armed services.

At the time that Velikovsky wrote, none of these problems with psychoanalysis and psychiatry had developed quite to these extremes, although Karl Popper was very thorough in pointing out that Psychoanalysis itself cannot be considered to be a science. I do not believe that Dr. Immanuel Velikovsky would have approved of the use of psychological terms to attaint and dismiss huge groups of people. And I have never felt that he would approve Millenials and Gen Z being made into Generation Rx.

Here are a few sections from the American Psychological Association's (APA) "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" which discuss informed consent.

Intro "The American Psychological Association's (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (hereinafter referred to as the Ethics Code) consists of an Introduction, a Preamble, five General Principles (A-E) and specific Ethical Standards. The Introduction discusses the intent, organization, procedural considerations, and scope of application of the Ethics Code. The Preamble and General Principles are aspirational goals to guide psychologists toward the highest ideals of psychology. Although the Preamble and General Principles are not themselves enforceable rules, they should be considered by psychologists in arriving at an ethical course of action. The Ethical Standards set forth enforceable rules for conduct as psychologists. ..."


3.10 Informed Consent
"(a) When psychologists conduct research or provide assessment, therapy, counseling, or consulting services in person or via electronic transmission or other forms of communication, they obtain the informed consent of the individual or individuals using language that is reasonably understandable to that person or persons except when conducting such activities without consent is mandated by law or governmental regulation or as otherwise provided in this Ethics Code. (See also Standards 8.02, Informed Consent to Research ; 9.03, Informed Consent in Assessments ; and 10.01, Informed Consent to Therapy.)"

"(c) When psychological services are court ordered or otherwise mandated, psychologists inform the individual of the nature of the anticipated services, including whether the services are court ordered or mandated and any limits of confidentiality, before proceeding."

"(d) Psychologists appropriately document written or oral consent, permission, and assent. (See also Standards 8.02, Informed Consent to Research ; 9.03, Informed Consent in Assessments ; and 10.01, Informed Consent to Therapy.)"

9.03 Informed Consent in Assessments
"(a) Psychologists obtain informed consent for assessments, evaluations, or diagnostic services, as described in Standard 3.10, Informed Consent, except when (1) testing is mandated by law or governmental regulations; (2) informed consent is implied because testing is conducted as a routine educational, institutional, or organizational activity (e.g., when participants voluntarily agree to assessment when applying for a job); or (3) one purpose of the testing is to evaluate decisional capacity. Informed consent includes an explanation of the nature and purpose of the assessment, fees, involvement of third parties, and limits of confidentiality and sufficient opportunity for the client/patient to ask questions and receive answers."

4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality
Psychologists have a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained through or stored in any medium, recognizing that the extent and limits of confidentiality may be regulated by law or established by institutional rules or professional or scientific relationship. (See also Standard 2.05, Delegation of Work to Others .)

4.02 Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality
(a) Psychologists discuss with persons (including, to the extent feasible, persons who are legally incapable of giving informed consent and their legal representatives) and organizations with whom they establish a scientific or professional relationship (1) the relevant limits of confidentiality and (2) the foreseeable uses of the information generated through their psychological activities. (See also Standard 3.10, Informed Consent .)