Controversies- non human animals in psychology Flashcards
What are our 4 main themes?
-BPS guidelines for psychologists working with animals
-Comparative/ethological psychology
-Use as a therapeutic device
-Specism
Introduction?
Even though psychology is primarily concerned with human behaviour, animals are often used in studies for a variety of reasons
Animal studies remain a contentious issue
Often animals will come to harm in studies
This harm may be physical resulting in pain. Its argued that animals can think and feel in the same was as humans and that causing them to suffer does not justify the scientific findings that such animal studies can give
As with the ethics of studies using humans, we can weigh up the costs and benefits of research on non human animals
Is the cost of using animals justified for the benefits of what we learn about human behaviour
Or is it the application of the findings from animals not useful enough to justify the harm experienced
Lorenz study?
Wanted to study if animals have a biological propensity to form attachments to one single subjects
Lorenz conducted an experiment in which goslings were hatched wither with their mother or in an incubator
Once the goslings had hatched they proceeded to follow the first moving object that they saw between 12 and 16 hrs after hatching (this was Lorenzo)
Supporting the view that biological basis for an attachment is adaptive as it promotes survival
Explains why goslings imprint after a matter of minutes due to their increased mobility, huan babies are born immobile causing them to not form attachment straight away so develops at 8-9 months
Para 1- guidelines?
S- One reason we should use animals is that there’s legislation
E- Under the UK animals act they believe that must take place in licenced area and follow the 3 rs (replace- suitable alternatives where possible, reduce- number of animals used and refine- procedures ensure the minimum amounts of suffering experience)
C- However Dunayer believes the guidelines aren’t enough, just because its legal doesn’t mean that its right, many reasons to use animals were justifications for black slaves. Kilkenny looked at 271 studies and found 59% mentioned amount of animals used, aims may not be succesfull
W- Therefore this explains reasons to why some may believe that its unethical to use animals
What is comparative psychology?
Studies that aim to use animals to use animals in order to make generalisations about humans
e.g. Harlow’s monkeys
What is ethological psychology?
Animals studied in their own environment, interested in the animal behaviour in its own right and less interested in generalising human behaviour
e.g. Lorenz goslings
Para 2- comparative vs ethological?
S- Some may argue between comparative and ethological
E- Explain comparative, explain harlow’s monkeys, good for society as it shows attachment, cant be done on humans monkeys are genetically attached and can improve lives of monkeys in captivity,monkeys harmed and were in an unnatural environment
Compared to ethological, explain this and Lorenz’s study, it benefits society as we are more likely to observe natural behaviour of animals and has less ethical issues due to less interference but it lacks control, can take months, expensive and no info about humans
E- Despite concerns regarding comparative psych some urge harm to animals is justifies as it can help us understand development of huans, but some argue it can never be justified
W- Therefore explaning comparative and ethological
Para 3- use as a therapeutic device, arguments for animals in therapy?
Increase self esteem as unconditional positive regard
-Animals assisted therapy involves interaction with animals as well as therapy to help you explore different ways, clients can open up and feel at ease
-Allen found that the presence of pet reduced blood pressure of children when reading also help elderly with life event stress and reduce cardiovascular
Para 3- evidence against animals in therapy?
-Peer reviewed studies in reaserch into the use of horses as a theraputic devide known as equating relatied treatments found to lack validty
-Its been suggested that no greater benefit has been found for mental heath than would have occurred just be letting a stimuli time pass by w/o treatment (Anestis et al)
-Animals used as therapeutic decides have no right to withdrawal and aren’t protected by the same guidelines as animals that are used directly in experiments
Para 4- whats specisim?
Refers to the idea that humans consider themselves superior to other species
Para 4- what’s the utilitarianism stance
What is right and waht brings the greater good to the greatest number. Consider the balance of needs e.g. if an experienced had the potential to cure diseases and condition that had no existing cure then it should go ahead despite the fact animals may suffer they would see it as a greater good in society and therefore accept it
Para 4- absolutist stance?
Would disagree
Humans don’t have the right to harm, no humans for their own gain in any circumstance
P4- Beatson- weigh up 3 aspects?
Importance of the reaserch: how scientifci is it, would it produce valid result
-Certainty if benfit to huans: how sre are we that animals or humans will directly benefit from this reaserch
-The degree of animals suffering: how many animals will need to be used and how much suffering will those endure
Beatson- 3 aspects?
When 1 and 2 are high and 3 is low is when we can justify animal research
Para 4 example?
Pavlov’s dogs- scientific but doesn’t really benefit humans and also harmed animals by drilling into mouth and wholes in their stomach
