Sexual misconduct in psychology is defined as:

Sexual misconduct in psychology is defined as prohibited sexual behavior by licensed professionals. This encompasses any inappropriate sexual advances or interactions that violate the ethical standards and legal regulations governing the practice of psychology.

The profession of psychology places a significant emphasis on maintaining professional boundaries and ensuring the welfare of clients. Engaging in sexual misconduct not only breaches these ethical standards but can also exploit the power imbalance inherent in the therapist-client relationship. Consequently, such actions can lead to serious emotional harm for clients and legal ramifications for practitioners.

Understanding this definition is crucial for maintaining professional integrity and ensuring a safe therapeutic environment. The other options do not accurately capture the essence of sexual misconduct as they focus on different aspects of professional conduct that are either permissible or not inherently sexual in nature.