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Ethical Competence Integration Model (ECIM)



Author(s)

Farzaneh Haratyan, Hadi Bahiraei

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5542/2026.04.002

Jilin International Studies University, Changchun, China; College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO), Ontario, Canada;

Background: Professional psychology in Ontario operates at the crossroads of aspirational ethical principles and enforceable regulatory standards, creating unique challenges for practitioners in training, particularly those in the supervised practice period. Objective: This conceptual paper introduces the Ethical Competence Integration Model (ECIM), a framework that adapts Rest’s (1986) Four-Component Model for Ontario’s supervised practice context. The ECIM integrates four interconnected pillars: positive ethics orientation, structured decision-making, regulatory literacy, and reflective self-awareness. Method: Drawing on foundational ethics scholarship (Knapp, VandeCreek, & Fingerhut, 2023; Barnett, 2019), the CPA (Canadian Psychological Association) Code of Ethics (2017), and CPBAO (College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario) regulatory documents (2024), this paper synthesizes existing literature and regulatory requirements into a cohesive framework. The methodology employs a conceptual synthesis approach, integrating theoretical principles with practical regulatory knowledge derived from the author’s lived experience as a supervised practice registrant. Findings: The ECIM provides a structured yet flexible approach that balances aspirational striving with procedural rigor, legal compliance, and self-awareness. The model addresses a critical gap identified in existing ethics education, which tends to emphasize either aspirational values or procedural rules, but rarely integrates both. Implications: This model has practical applications for graduate training programs, supervised practice relationships, clinical supervision, and continuing professional development, particularly within the Canadian regulatory context. Conclusion: The ECIM offers an integrative roadmap for developing ethical competence as a coherent professional identity, particularly valuable for psychologists navigating the supervised practice period in Ontario.

ethical competence, positive ethics, CPBAO, ethical decision-making, supervised practice, Ontario psychology regulation, Rest’s Four-Component Model, psychology regulation, ethics education, professional identity

Farzaneh Haratyan, Hadi Bahiraei. (2026). Ethical Competence Integration Model (ECIM). Psychology Research, Vol. 16, No. 4, 188-196. doi:10.17265/2159-5542/2026.04.002.