Issues and Debates: Ethical Implications + Socially Sensitive Research

Question 1

Ethical implications

Answer 1

The impact or consequences that can come from the findings of psychological research, goes beyond the participants of the study.

Question 2

Socially sensitive research

Answer 2

Studies in which there are potential social consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in research or the class of individuals represented by the research.
Some areas of psychology are likely to be more controversial than others - often confronts taboo topics.
Attract attention from media, public + other psychologists.
Doesn’t mean research shouldn’t be conducted.

Question 3

Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation - socially sensitive

Answer 3

“Mother-love in infancy is as important for mental health as are vitamins and proteins for physical health”
- Children raised in a day-care rather than with a stay-at-home mother negatively stereotyped.
- Children separated during CP feel there is nothing they can do about their MH + struggles in relationships as adults.
- Mothers who send their children to day care, looked down upon - adds a burden of responsibilities onto the mothers to form a strong relationship with their child
- Potential negative stereotyping of working mothers.
- Influenced child-rearing practices for a generation

Question 4

Raine’s Brain Differences in Criminals

Answer 4

Differences in brain activity of criminals in pre-frontal cortex + amygdala.
- May be abnormalities in the brain which predispose individuals to violence + murder.
-> Results lead to a change in/justification for the way these groups are treated/perceived.
-> Biology causes criminal behaviour - removal of moral responsibility for criminals
-> self-fulfilling prophecy if offending is predetermined.

Question 5

Milgram’s research of obedience

Answer 5

P’s would harm someone for getting a question wrong, if told to do so by authority figure.
Does it explain how genocides are carried out?
Questions about personal responsibility
Impact on p’s when they realised what they had potentially done.
Results can reinforce stereotypes + discrimination-views of people against different nationalites.

Question 6

Dealing with Social Sensitivity

Answer 6

Psychologists must recognise + alert others of the potential misuse of research.
- Care taken with how research questions are formulated so it doesn’t misinterpret certain groups,
- Be alert to the possibility of the misuse of findings + take steps to present findings in a value-free way
- Weigh up the possible costs + benefits before conducting any research + only proceed where the benefits outweigh the costs.