Informed consent in psychology is the ethical and legal practices of the process by which a practitioner discloses information to a client and secures their understanding and voluntary agreement regarding the proposed intervention’s. The principle argues that an individual should be provided sufficient information in order to exercise autonomy over the decision.
Informed consent entails providing the rationale behind the action, the various steps that will be taken, reasonable risks, the advantages to be gained, the extent of data secrecy, and the freedom to withdraw at any time without any repercussions. A participant of a survey in psychology, before accepting to participate, is provided information about the activities they will engage in, the way they will be utilized, and any level of discomfort that is likely to be encountered. In the case of a counselor, they will explain the rationale behind the various strategies, the anticipated goals, and the aspects of the agreement that will be maintained. The client is given the right to decide to engage or not.
This kind of openness, in psychology, is critical to building rapport as well as a working alliance. What does modern psychology say about consent? It is an evolving conversation instead of a mere signature on a document. Informed consent within child therapy, trauma therapy, or any sensitive therapy area, is much more complex – psychologists have to work harder to facilitate understanding and attestation. Informed consent is of paramount importance in any ethical practice, as it safeguards the subjects and promotes respect and responsibility within the discipline.