This reflective paper raises important questions regarding ethics in applied linguistics research. Starting with understanding the need for an analysis of ethics in the field, the reflective paper opens with an excerpt from Ema Ushioda's abstract from the 5th Psychology of Language Learning (PLL5) conference in Madrid in May 2024, which provided an overview of unintended effects of applied linguistics research. The reflection continues, citing Lamb's (2018) longitudinal work and Tekin's (2024) dissertation as examples of some potential unintended affects. Then, a synopsis of the rise in popularity of positive psychology in applied linguistics is provided, citing MacIntyre's earlier work on the Willingness to Communicate (WTC) construct as a precursor to the more recent work in positive psychology. The reflective paper concludes with a summary of the need for increased public-facing scholarship to enact positive societal change.