ethical implications Flashcards
what are ethical implications?
the consequences of conducting psychological research in unethical ways for participants and wider society
what is social sensitivity?
consequences of research that has ethical implications beyond the immediate research setting
3 studies that have socially sensitive content?
-lowney 1995 - participant observation of satanists, could have backlash on those observed, condemnation from society etc
-raine 1996 - brain scans of violent criminals, finding damage, problematic if a child was also found to have the damage
what did brehm argue?
some topics shouldn’t be studied because of their potentially sensitive nature and potential to cause issues
why is some research deemed as necessary despite it being unethical?
provides valuable insights
-eg lante & darley bystander behaviour, caused participants distress (but all participants said they thought it was justified)
how are ethics maintained in research?
most research has ethical committees
how do ethical implications relate to schizophrenia?
any research on psychopathology is potentially socially sensitive, could affect sufferers and their family
misdiagnosis can also affect people
how do ethical implications relate to aggression?
genetic factors can be socially sensitive as it’s deterministic, and can have legal implications
how do ethical implications relate to cognition and development?
theory of mind has implications for people diagnosed with autism
some research indicates a link between parenting style and autism
evaluate ethical implications
-code of ethics as well as the university ethics board means that ethical implications have to be considered, protecting participants
-sometimes it’s not possible to foresee the effects of the research. it’s also not an objective decision, could involve bias
-ethical guidelines could be too strict, some unethical research is beneficial
