ETHICAL ISSUES Flashcards
ETHICAL PROBLEMS
- LONG LASTING EFFECTS ON ALBERT
- PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA
- CAUSED DISTRESS ON PURPOSE
- PSYCHLOGICAL HARM
- NO DECONDITIONING
- NO INFORMED CONSENT
- ONLY USED ONE SUBJECT
- SHOWN A MONKEY AND BURNING NEWSPAPER
LONG LASTING EFFECTS
Watson and Rayner:
DIDN’T DECONDITION Albert before he left, meaning Albert left with the phobia causing PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA.
Was left in A STATE OF FEAR, and left with a previously nonexistent fear.
This may have caused developmental effects as there were no follow up.
INTENTIONAL DISTRESS
Study involved Watson and Rayner to intentionally induced fear from Albert, which is deliberately causing psychological harm.
EVIDENCE OF INTENTIONAL DISTRESS
Watson and Rayner OPENLY addressed himself that they avoided tests for a week in order not to disturb the child too seriously.
ONLY ONE SUBJECT
The study was to test classical conditioning but only one subject was used, so the results can’t be generalised to other people.
NO DECONDITIONING
Watson and Rayner did not decondition Albert when he left, using the excuse that Albert had left abruptly and deconditioning could not take place.
This was a lie. Watson knew the date when Albert would leave but still didn’t decondition.
WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE STATE PRIOR TO RESEARCH, which he claimed he would do.
INFORMED CONSENT
In modern time, informed consent is important. Would an infant who was barely one, understand what was going on and what he was participating in?
Were the parents of Albert aware that fear was going to be intentionally created to Albert?
PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM
The study caused great anxiety, fear, but also stress to Albert, which would’ve caused harm and trauma to Albert.
EVIDENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM
Evidence was that the main aim was to induce fear. Albert:
- WHIMPERED
- CRIED
- WITHDREW HIS BODY
- Had to result to THUMB SUCKING to soothe himself
ETHICAL GUIDELINES WERE NOT ESTABLISHED SO..
Ethical guidelines were not established so Albert was not protected from harm
ONE POSITIVE ETHICAL IMPLICATION?
ALBERT HAD THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW
IT WAS SO UNETHICAL THAT…
The research was so unethical that it can’t be replicated today.
