Which of the following is one of the British Psychological Society's four ethical principles?

• A. Respect
• B. Confidentiality
• C. Equality
• D. Empathy

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the BPS ethical framework is built around four overarching principles guiding professional conduct, and one of these is respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples. This principle underpins how psychologists treat participants and clients—as autonomous, worthy of protection, and deserving fair consideration—covering consent, privacy, and welfare. Because the option explicitly names this principle, it fits as the correct choice.

Confidentiality, while essential and flowing from the respect principle, is a duty tied to protecting privacy rather than one of the four top-level principles itself. Equality and empathy are important ethical qualities, but they are not the named four principles in the BPS framework.