Non-human animals Flashcards
BPS
that one point to consider is the BPS guidelines (british psychological society) and it provides guidelines that psychologists are advised to follow when conducting research with animals… such as Heed the 3Rs Replace, Reduce and Refine. making sure that species chosen is suited to the research purpose and paying attention to any procedure that may cause pain so careful evaluation and alternatives must be considered aswell as considering their food intake so that requirements are met
what is this about
Non human animal use In psychology has been disputed or being unethical and irrelevant, however others have argued that it is helpful and a more ethical alternative to human experiments
One point to consider
BPS guidelines
The British psychological society publishes guidelines for research with animals psychologists are advised to follow
BPS guidelines
- Conform to current legislation
- Heed the 3Rs
- Choose species that are suited to the research purpose
- Be aware of animals previous experiance
- Pay special attention to any procedure that may cause pain and ensure such procedures are carefully evaluated and alternatives considered
- Consider food intake so that normal food requirements and metabolic requirements are met
The 3Rs
Replace
Reduce
Refine
In 2000 home office issued guidance on the principle of the 3Rs first proposed by Russell and Birch
Researchers should seek wherever possible to replace animal research with suitable alternatives to reduce the number of animals used and refine procedures so that they cause less suffering
Animals ( scientific procedures) Act requires research with non human animals is only permitted by licensed researchers on licensed projects only granted by home office if :
- Knowledge to be gained from any investigation justifies harm or distress to animal participants
- Research cannot be done using non animals methods
- Any discomfort or suffering is kept to a minimum by appropriate use of anaesthetics or painkillers
Comparative psychology
Comparative psychology is the study of non human animals often with the intention of making comparisons with humans.
Example of comparative psychology
One example is work of Harlow who placed infant monkeys in a cage with two wire mothers - one with feeding bottle and one wrapped in soft cloth. The monkeys chose to spend most time with the cloth covered mother demonstrating importance of contact comfort rather than feeding.
What was the harm in Harlows study
The monkeys developed into emotionally maladjusted adults despite their contact comfort- they couldn’t socialise with other monkeys and rejected their own infants. However the research had very little important influence on understanding of infant emotional development- the recognition that feeding alone was not the basis of the bond between caregiver and infant.
Advantage of comparative research
it should be acknowledged that some comparative research may be applied to benefit animals lives. EG harlows research can be used to help improve the lives of monkeys in captivity or for breeding programmes for species in danger or exctinction
ethological psychology (point 3)
ethologists seek to study animals in a way that does not affect their behaviour, observing the animals in their natural environment with relatively little interferance.
Ethologist example
for example konrad lorenz arranged for some gosling eggs to hatch so he was the first moving thing they saw. These goslings followed lorenz everywhere as if he was their mother. Research like this, Harlows had an important influence on understanding emotional development
ethologist psychology
Dian Fossey
observed gorillas in their natural habitat in order to reach a greater understanding on their social relationships. Her work made famous through film Gorillas in the Mist
Non human animal use
As Theraputic Device
Karen Allen
The presence of pets has been shown to reduce stress. For example Karen Allen reported that the presence of pets reduced blood pressure in children reading aloud, buffered the elderly against life event stresses and reduced cardiovascular risk.
Different theraputic approach
aims to enable disturbed or socially isolated individuals to learn how to trust and form relationships with other people
AAT ( Animal assisted therapy)
may involve the use of dogs,cats,horses,dolphins or even fish and hamsters as ‘behavioural facilitators’
The bond between client and animal is developed through physical interactions such as grooming or feeding the animal. The ultimate aim is to be able to transfer social skills learned with animals to relationships with humans. In addition, the therapist can use the animal client relationship as a means of exploring sensitive issues and discuessing painful experiances
support of AAT
some studies have provided very encouraging evidence for AAT
Friedmann and Heesok son reviewed 28 studies using AAT and found all studies reported beneficial effects for emotional problems including schizophrenia, developmental disabilities and down syndrome
Criticism of AAT
Micheal Anestis et al reviewed 14 studies of equine therapy and identified number of serious methodological issues- the sample size were very small
there were no control groups
individuals were not allocated randomly to treatment groups
* Any benefits may simply be due to having special attention from therapist rather than animal interaction
( to be fair same criticism has been levelled towards therapies in general- that it is therapist - client relationship that is key rather than any particular kind of intervention
Speciesism
Peter Singer argued that discrimination on the basis of membership of species is no different from racial or gender discrimination and thus suggested that the use of animals is an example of ‘speciesism’ similar to racisim or sexism
* On other hand Jeffery Gray suggested that we have a special duty of care to humans and therefore speciesism is not equivalent to, for example racism
Animal Rights
at the opposite end of the spectrum from Gray is Tom Regan who believes there is no circumstance under which animal research is acceptable. Singers view is a utilitarian one, ie whatever produces the greater good for the greater number of individuals is ethically acceptable. This means that, if animal research can alleviate pain and suffering it is justifiable. Regans position is an absolutist one. He claims that animals have a right to be treated with respect and should never be used in research.
How is the Animal Rights argument challenged
by examining the concept of rights- having rights is dependant on having responsibilities in society, ie as citizens it can therefore be said that as animals do not have any responsibilities they do not have any rights
Gardner and Gardner
investigated whether they could teach a chimp(Washoe) to communicate using sign language. She was caught in the wild aged 8-14 months approx. and taught by games, reinforcement(tickling) and repetition to learn number of signs. She was raised in a way that was as close to a human child as possible, being well fed and having lots of interaction with her human carers. Gardner and Gardner went on to raise a number of other chimps and continue their work
Hubel and Weisel
carried out a series of studies on kittens to investigate the development of vision. In newborn kittens one eyelid was stitched shut and then reopened a few months later. It was shown that the kitten had gone blind in one eye, suggesting that the visual cortex develops during a critical period in life and that it needs visual stimulation to develop
