controversy 1 : use of non-human animals

Question 1

(BPS) what are the BPSs 3 Rs?

Answer 1

replacement - ensuring there are no alternatives to using animals
reduction - minimal number of animals used at all times
refinement - procedures should inflict the least amount of harm and severity minimised

Question 2

(BPS) what are the laws around using animals in research?

Answer 2

animals scientific procedures act 1986 - breaking BPS guidelines is a criminal offence
home office license - will only be granted if the knowledge gained justifies the harm to animals

Question 3

(BPS) what are the basic BPS principles?

Answer 3

1. legislation
2. follow 3Rs which are governed by the NC3R
3. suitable species and strains
4. if possible, use alternative methods than animals
5. care for animals, even when not being studied
6. limit pain cause, post-study care, ethical disposal methods
7. normal diet and metabolic requirements met

Question 4

(C/E) what is comparative psychology?

Answer 4

refers to the study of non-human animals with the intention of comparing them to humans
assumes that humans and animals learn in similar ways
many 20th century studies used animals using this assumption

Question 5

(C/E) what are the arguments for comparative psychology?

Answer 5

1. many experiments would be unethical on humans : Harlow looked at maternal deprivation on monkeys, ‘surrogate mothers’, spent more time with cloth monkey, couldn’t interact with other monkeys, Bowlby, animal research applied to humans successfully
2. evolutionary and behavioural continuum argument : humans evolved from animals, simpler animals can be used to study more complex ones, Skinner’s operant conditioning on rats and pigeons, findings applied to humans with gambling addictions, token economies, Pavlov phobias and SD
3. convenience : animals breed quickly and are easier to control, Tyron bright and dull maze
4. more objective : Harlow avoided emotional involvement by using animals

Question 6

(C/E) what are the arguments against comparative psychology?

Answer 6

1. risk of anthropomorphism : assigning human qualities to animals, Darwin developed sexual selection from animal research
2. extrapolation : generalising animal research findings to animals, Brady found that the money in control suffered the most stress (stomach ulcers), while Kobasa’s human study found feeling in control was beneficial (thalidomide disaster)
3. humans differ qualitatively from animals : brain structure and language development, only 1.6% difference in human and chimp DNA but may be crucial

Question 7

(C/E) what is ethology?

Answer 7

the study of behaviour of animals in their natural habitats or captivity, little interference
Lorenz studied imprinting in geese, Bowlby
ethologists argue that comparative psychology lacks ecological validity
difficult to know what’s causing them to behave this way
if animals are tagged or ringed, this could interfere with reproduction

Question 8

(species) what is speciesism?

Answer 8

the idea that human beings are superior to animals and therefore have greater moral rights
utilitarianism - Peter Singer, we should respect the rights of animals on the basis of equal suffering, ‘greater good’, e.g. no cure then do it
absolutism - Tom Regan, balance of needs, humans have no right to harm animals for their own gain

Question 9

(species) who is in favour of speciesism?

Answer 9

Gray (1991) - we have a special duty to protect our own species, it is possible to inflict a high amount of harm on an animal for a smaller human suffering, Harlow

Question 10

(species) who is against speciesism?

Answer 10

Ryder (1990) - speciesism is wrong and animals deserve same rights as humans
Singer (1991) - speciesism is as morally wrong as racism, attempted to close gap between ages and humans
*if animals are so different from us then there is no point researching on them as we can’t generalise
Mukerjee (1997) - if animals are close enough to humans to use as models for human minds, then ethical dilemmas surely arise

Question 11

(species) what is the resolution to speciesism?

Answer 11

Bateson (1986) cost benefit analysis
ethical cost to participants/animals VS scientific quality of findings VS benefit to society/individuals
can be difficult to assess until after the study
one person’s judgement may be different to another
how do you judge the suffering of an animal?

Question 12

(therapy) what does using animals as a therapeutic device mean?

Answer 12

therapeutic devices are anything object, product or animal used in a medical context to aid or improve physical or psychological well-being
traditionally used for physical disabilities
using animals as a therapeutic device could been seen as acceptable as there is no harm to animals, however could be seen as speciesism

Question 13

(therapy) what are the different forms of AAT?

Answer 13

pet therapy : simplest and most common, volunteers, common in hospitals and schools, addiction therapy, boundaries and self-esteem
canine therapy : designed to instil ‘transferable attachment’, human relationships, social networks, long-term sobriety
equine : drug and alcohol recovery centres, goal-orientated exercises, change of focus, sense of purpose and responsibility with caring for animals
dolphin-assisted psychotherapy : addiction, swimming, taught lessons about themselves, e.g. tendency to chase away things he wants, ‘accepted’ by pod

Question 14

(therapy) what are the arguments against using animals as a therapeutic device?

Answer 14

ethical issues : no right to withdraw, not protected by the same guidelines as experimental animals
lack of evidence : equine therapy lacks validity, no greater benefit found for mental health than same time passing without treatment
more harm than good? : Hunn said animals may be mechanical vectors of pathogens in hospitals between patients, petting and licking can contaminate, spread of microorganisms
cost : AAT requires money and resources, unrealistic for may patients

Question 15

(therapy) what are the arguments for the use of animals as a therapeutic device?

Answer 15

Allen (2003) - pets reduce blood pressure in children reading aloud and cardiovascular risk in the elderly
Friedman et al - reviewed AAT and found beneficial effects for SZ and down syndrome
BPS - guidelines consider general care and welfare of therapy animals, similar, temperament and training should be suitable, monitoring at all times, animals should have opportunity to leave
results - reduced blood pressure, increase in endorphins, decrease in stress hormones (cortisol)
*study 2003, 58 participants with no diagnoses told there may be a tarantula, never hold it but still increased stress levels, some left alone, some petting a rabbit and some petting a turtle, both animals gave a reduced stress result