Quiz #1 Flashcards
- What is Change
What is social change?
Sources of social change
-Change occurring in short periods of time (examples)
-Challenging the status quo (examples)
-Malcolm Gladwell Theory
-Apple and Facebook Epidemic
- What is Change: What is social change?
Social change is transformations in the beliefs, social interactions, practices, organization and structures of society. These changes occur over time; some changes happen slowly, while others are quick.
- What is Change: Sources of social change–> Change occurring in short periods of time (examples)
Tornado in Ontario, Columbine Shooting, Attack on Government
- What is Change: Sources of social change–> -Challenging the status quo (examples)
Sometimes change creates problems and challenges the status quo
ex; Rosa Parks: Changed the status quo of Black People being able to sit on the front of the bus or wherever they want
ex: Galileo Gablilel: reported that there were other planets then Earth and earth was surrounded
- What is Change: Sources of social change–> - -Malcolm Gladwell Theory
He believes that ideas, products, and behaviours spread throughout society in the same way that a virus spreads. When an idea, product, or behaviour becomes popular enough, it reaches its tipping point, creating a social epidemic.
- What is Change: Sources of social change–> - Apple and Facebook Epidemic
Steve Jobs “change should happen as a way to test and challenge the current state of affairs”
Obama said this about Jobs: “Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it”
Mark Zuckerberg envisioned a social network that connected people on a global level
- Schools of Thought
Anthropology (Structural Functionalism, Cultural Materialism)
Psychology (Psychoanalytic theory, Learning theory, Behaviourism)
Sociology (Structural Functionalism, Marxism, Conflict Theory, Feminism, Queer Theory)
- Schools of Thought–> Anthropology
Anthropology : The study of human species and its origins and the development of its language and culture
- Schools of Thought–> Anthropology (Structural Functionalism
Structural Functionalism: Structural Functionalism is a sociological theory that attempts to explain why society functions the way it does by focusing on the relationships between the various social institutions that make up society (e.g., government, law, education, religion, etc).
Explore how societies have evolved to meet the changing biological and societal needs
Major theorist: Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)
Structural Functionalism is focused on the importance of social structure
Social structures gives our lives shape in families, schools and the workplace.
Status – a specific position within a social group
Role – A set of behaviours that an individual is expected to demonstrate
Norm – most prevalent behaviours
The structures and institutions in society work and are necessary to keep society functioning properly.
For example, it is necessary to have a legal system to keep people following the laws made to maintain the system. If the legal system falls apart, people will take over enforcing the rules. Not necessarily concerned with social change but with a society’s capacity to remain stable during times of conflict and unrest.
Structural functionalism does not critique existing systems to look at how they benefit some in society and are damaging to others.
- Schools of Thought–> Anthropology (Cultural Materialism)
CULTURAL MATERIALISM
Human existence is a response to the diverse and complex problems that exist in society. That is, human reproduction (procreation) and production (of goods and services) are intertwined with elements in our environment.
The physical materials, conditions, and economic activity of a society will change the organization and ideology of a culture.
Change in technology can create a massive shift in the beliefs of a society
Individuals must adapt in order to thrive
Computers are used in business, in education, government, law enforcement
In schools, they have changed the way we learn, find research, communicate with friends, complete homework, and organize our day
- Schools of Thought–> Psychology
The study of the human mind, behaviours, emotions, cognitive processes and personality
- Schools of Thought–> Psychology–> Psychoanalytic theory
Psychoanalytic Theory: This theory examines the belief that the mind is divided into two parts: the conscious (what we are aware of and the unconscious (what we are not aware of). This belief states that our unconscious mind has more influence over our behaviour than our conscious. The unconscious is further broken down.
- Schools of Thought–> Psychology–> Learning theory
Learning Theory: learning can alter the way an individual interprets the world around them and can lead to behavioural changes
e.x.. children copying and learning behaviour from parents
Behaviourism: uses behaviour modification to create change
(Operant and Classical Conditioning)
- Schools of Thought–> Sociology
The study of society and social behavior
- Schools of Thought–> Sociology–> Structural Functionalism
Structural Functionalism: Structural Functionalism is a sociological theory that attempts to explain why society functions the way it does by focusing on the relationships between the various social institutions that make up society (e.g., government, law, education, religion, etc).
Explore how societies have evolved to meet the changing biological and societal needs
Major theorist: Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)
Structural Functionalism is focused on the importance of social structure
Social structures gives our lives shape in families, schools and the workplace.
Status – a specific position within a social group
Role – A set of behaviours that an individual is expected to demonstrate
Norm – most prevalent behaviours
The structures and institutions in society work and are necessary to keep society functioning properly.
For example, it is necessary to have a legal system to keep people following the laws made to maintain the system. If the legal system falls apart, people will take over enforcing the rules. Not necessarily concerned with social change but with a society’s capacity to remain stable during times of conflict and unrest.
Structural functionalism does not critique existing systems to look at how they benefit some in society and are damaging to others
,2. Schools of Thought–> Sociology–>Marxism + conflict theory
Economic power and material wealth create a situation of natural competition between different classes in society.
Understanding the influence money has on our society is the key to understanding how any given society is organized.
Class conflict between the bourgeois and the working class will always exist
Origins in Marx’s Theory
Greatest of all conflicts exists between the poor and rich
The theory was extended to include the conflict between the command class and those who are in the obey class
Becomes the umbrella term meaning a theory that looks at conflict.
ex (conflict theory): Automotive:
As a modern example, automotive companies aim to increase profits with the movement of automotive production to places where there is a lower wage.
Paying the workers a lower wage than North American workers increases the profits for the automotive company. There is an increased benefit for the same standard of production of goods.
Unlike structural functionalism, conflict theory looks at the discrepancy between how those in power and those without power are treated by the structures and institutions in society and aims to explain the conflicts that arise.
,2. Schools of Thought–> Sociology–> Feminism,
Women have been traditionally disadvantaged
Decisions are made by men for men
Value system is sexist and dysfunctional
Paying women less ensures that males are the dominant ruling class, thus creating a “glass ceiling” for women who wish to rise in the social structure. Socialist Feminists look at the overthrow of the capitalist system of economics and believe that this system is the root of the problem between male and female power struggles.
,2. Schools of Thought–> Sociology–> Queer Theory
Queer theorists argue that there is no set normal, only changing norms that people may or may not fit into
Queer theorists’ main challenge to disrupt binaries (like male/female) in hopes that this will destroy difference as well as inequality
Queer theory critiques current power structures and institutions
Key concept of queer theory is heteronormativity
heteronormativity: a world view that promotes heterosexuality as the normal and/or preferred sexual orientation.
this is reinforced in society through the institutions of marriage, taxes, employment, and adoption rights
heteronormativity is a form of power and control that applies pressure to both straight and LGBTQ+ individuals, through institutional arrangements (like marriage) and accepted social norms.
- Conditions of Change
- Anthropology (Invention, Discovery, Diffusion) (4 parts of Culture)
- Psychology (Cognitive Consistency, Cognitive Dissonance Theory)
- Sociology (ways to explain social change, aspects of change)
- Macrosociology
- Confirmation Bias
- Conditions of Change–> Anthropology–>Invention
Cultures are always changing
Invention: New products, ideas and social patterns affect the way we live
Earphones for stereos, then walkman, then iPods.
- Conditions of Change–> Anthropology–>Discovery
finding something new that was previously unknown to a culture
Appreciating the ways of another culture
- Conditions of Change–> Anthropology–>Diffusion
The spreading of ideas, methods and tools from one culture to another.
The importation of herbal remedies from Asia
- Conditions of Change–> Anthropology–>4 parts of Culture
- Physical Environment
-Example: weather and landscape will affect clothing choices and outdoor activites - Level of Technology
Example: congested societies would welcome more transit where as small towns free of congestion would not be able to rationalize this
- Social Organization
Example: kinship, labour divisions, social rules, punishment
- System of Symbols
-Example: physical objects, dance trends, gestures, hairstyles
- Conditions of Change–> Psychology
Psychologists want to know if it is necessary to
To change an individual’s attitudes before you can change their behaviour
Psychologists want to know if we are more receptive to logical or emotional arguments
- Conditions of Change–> Psychology–> Cognitive Consistency
Social psychologists say that we desire cognitive consistency (we want to avoid attitudes that conflict with each other)
We change our attitude when we experience discomfort that arises from conflicting attitudes
This conflict and need for cognitive consistency forces us to change an attitude so everything can be calm and satisfying.
- Conditions of Change–> Psychology–>Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort a person feels when their behavior does not align with their values or beliefs. Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person holds two contradictory beliefs at the same time.
- Conditions of Change–> Sociology–> ways to explain social change
- From decay: societies begin ideal and become more materialistic, making people less spiritual. They become less able to provide for and protect their citizens
2.From cycles of growth and decay :Moving up and down in progression - from progression : Continuous progression. Each new society builds on the experiences of its predecessors, resulting in social change.
- Conditions of Change–> Sociology–> aspects of change
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- Conditions of Change–> Macrosociology
Groups, social systems, and social structures are analyzed on a large scale.
Sociologists are concerned with wide-sweeping changes that influence an entire society
When majority of the population is engaged in and actively pursuing change in specific social area, you can see transformations in collective ideals and beliefs
- Conditions of Change–>Confirmation Bias
The tendency among people to favour information that confirms their beliefs and preconceptions about an issue regardless of the validity of the information.
- External Factors Influencing Change
Physical,population changes, proximity, Social environment/culture,technology
- External Factors Influencing Change–>Physical
The physical environment is the habitat where the society exists.
Climate, weather, vegetation, animal populations, and humans all affect the physical environment
When one of these factors changes it creates a ripple effect on society
- External Factors Influencing Change–>population changes
Caused by immigration and emigration have important implications for society and social change
New immigrants create diverse cities and challenge the social system to expand to meet the unique needs of its new members
Jobs and employment are also an issue facing a society with a sudden increase in population
Canada limits the number of people who can immigrate into the country each year
Immigration can also lead to cultural exchanges between different groups resulting in new attitudes, beliefs, and values
- Immigration has been on the rise
A society that is losing its population through emigration faces its own challenges
If there aren’t enough people in an area to fill all jobs or pay the taxes, social institutions must change
- External Factors Influencing Change–> proximity
The proximity of a cultural group to another distinct cultural group has an effect on how that society changes
Societies located in close proximity to one another tend to change and develop more rapidly than those located in remote and isolated areas
Exchanges between cultures are known as intercultural contact
Change is more likely to occur when intercultural contact is high
Throughout history trade and war lead to intercultural contact
Today we exchange ideas between cultures through trade, globalization, and tourism
The Karen village at the Burma (Myanmar)- Thailand border is isolated and life has remained unchanged for generations.
- External Factors Influencing Change–> Social Environment, Culture, and Social Values
The social environment, or structure, dictates the rate of change for the culture
There are two types of social structures: collectivist and individualist societies
Common values in collectivist cultures include conformity, uniformity, and cooperation
These are tightly structured societies in which the individual’s duties and obligations to the group are more important than personal privileges and freedoms
Because this is rigid it can be difficult for social change to happen
In Individualist societies, social behaviour is guided by personal rights and freedoms, and there is a distinction between personal and communal goals
More tolerant of cultural variability and receptive to change
A society’s values and attitudes are also determining factors for how the society accepts change
In larger post-industrial societies, people are conditioned to accept and embrace change
More likely to experiment with innovations and , as a result of better communication systems, changes permeate the group more rapidly and affect a greater proportion of the population
In smaller, more isolated societies whose cultures have been relatively static for long periods of time, people are more reluctant to accept change
Change happens gradually and there is greater social stability
Traditions, customs, and rituals are valued
With little to challenge their way of life, these societies can be more ethnocentric
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture, nation, or ethnic group is superior to all others
- External Factors Influencing Change–> Technology
The development and use of technology in society has wide-reaching implications on a culture’s social institutions, customs, and values
In Canadian society, many of our social values are closely connected with the technology we use in daily life
Technology changes society because it alters the way we interact with our environment
Sociologist William Fielding Ogburn (1886-1959) suggests that technology is the single most important mechanism driving progress in society
5.Influential Canadians
Nellie McClung
Tommy Douglas
Adrianne Clarkson
Pierre Tredeau
Terry Fox
Lester B Pearson
5.Influential Canadians–>Nellie McClung
Former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Canadian writer and a reformer
Fought for women’s suffrage
Was in the group of the Famous Five
The Famous Five were known for changing BNA Act S.24 allowing women to be on Senate
McClung believed women should be allowed into politics and government
They took the case to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1927 but they did not rule in favour of the Famous Five
They later took the case to the Judicial Council of Britain’s Privy Council and in 1929 they ruled in favour of the women
5.Influential Canadians–>Tommy Douglaus
-premier of Saskatchewan, first leader of the New Democratic
-The most significant innovation during Tommy Douglas’s time as premier of Saskatchewan was the implementation of government-funded health insurance.
-He also helped establish democratic socialism in mainstream Canadian politics.
5.Influential Canadians–>Adrianne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson was appointed as Canada’s 26th governor general by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. She was the first racialized person, the first person of Asian heritage and the first without a political or military background appointed to the vice-regal position. Her appointment came after an award-winning career in broadcast and print journalism, where she was best known as host and reporter of CBC’s The Fifth Estate. After her tenure as governor general, Clarkson and her husband, John Ralston Saul, launched the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, an organization that aims to accelerate the cultural integration of new citizens into Canadian society. She is the author of two novels and five works of non-fiction.
5.Influential Canadians–>Pierre Tredeau
-Pierre Elliott Trudeau, PC, CC, CH, FRSC, prime minister of Canada 1968–79 and 1980–84, politician, writer, constitutional lawyer
- He opposed the Union Nationale government of Maurice Duplessis and agitated for social and political change.
-A rising star in the Liberal Party, Trudeau was named minister of justice in 1967. In this role, he gained national attention for reforming divorce law (see Family Law in Canada); as well as for amending the Criminal Code to liberalize laws on abortion, homosexuality, and public lotteries. He also established a reputation as a defender of a strong federal government against the nationalist demands of Quebec.
-As justice minister in 1967, Trudeau introduced reforms to the Criminal Code that effectively decriminalized
5.Influential Canadians–>Terry Fox
After losing his right leg to cancer at age 18, Terry Fox decided to run across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research. With the use of a customized running prosthesis, he set out from St. John’s, Newfoundland, on 12 April 1980 and covered 5,373 km in 143 days — an average of 42 km (26 miles) per day. He was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on 1 September 1980, when cancer had invaded his lungs. He died shortly before his 23rd birthday. The youngest person to be made a Companion of the Order of Canada, he was awarded the 1980 Lou Marsh Trophy (now the Northern Star Award) as Canada’s athlete of the year and was named a Person of National Historic Significance by the Government of Canada. He was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and has had many schools, institutions and landmarks named in his honour. The annual Terry Fox Run has raised more than $800 million for cancer research. The Marathon of Hope raised $24 million by February 1981.
5.Influential Canadians–>Lester B Pearson
Lester Pearson was Canada’s foremost diplomat of the 1950s and 1960s. He formulated the basics of the country’s postwar foreign policy; particularly its involvement in NATO and the United Nations, where he served as president of the General Assembly. In 1957, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic efforts in facilitating Britain and France’s departure from Egypt during the Suez Crisis. A skilled politician, he rebuilt the Liberal Party and as prime minister strove to maintain Canada’s national unity. Under his leadership, the government implemented a Canada Pension Plan; a universal medicare system; a unified Armed Forces; and a new national flag
-He strongly supported a Western self-defence organization; he hoped that its existence would discourage aggression by the Soviet Union.
-For all its superficial chaos, the Pearson government left behind a notable legacy of legislation: a Canada Pension Plan; a universal medicare system; a unified Armed Forces; and a new national flag.
- Conformity and alienation
- Conformity and alienation
- informational conformity,
-normative conformity
- Conformity and alienation
CONFORMITY:
act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours to what individuals perceive as normal to their society or social group
ALIENATION:
estrangement or distance of people from each other, from what they find meaningful or from their sense of self.
- Conformity and alienation–>Informational Conformity
going along with a group because they convince us they are right
- Conformity and alienation–> Milgram’s experiment
- People did what idivudals in authority told them to do becasue they did nto want to go agaisnt someone in power, they would submit to their requests when pressured even if they knew it was wrong
- Not very ethical as it uses actors and the indivduls geinuely think the subject is in pain
- Conformity and alienation–>Normative Conformity
going along with a group because we are apprehensive that the group will disapprove if we are deviant
- Conformity and alienation–> Residential Schools, Numbered Treaties, The Indian Act
Residential Schools: Forced children to be stripped of their culture, were nto allowed to speak their languages, had their names changed to western names and had their logn hair cut for them to conform
- Opened in 1870’s-1996
- Tredeau aplogized in 2017
Numbered Treaties:
Treaty: A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A convention or exchange of letters, among other terms.
The numbered treaties (or Post-Confederation Treaties) are a series of eleven treaties signed between the Aboriginal Peoples in Canada and the reigning Monarch of Canada (Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, or King George V) from 1871 to 1921. It was the Government of Canada who created the policy, commissioned the Treaty Commissioners and ratified the agreements. These Treaties are agreements with the Government of Canada, administered by Canadian Aboriginal law and overseen by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
The goverment wanted land from them and order to get it Indiegnous people had to sign treaties but they were not willing to so the goverment starved them until they gave up their land
- Allienation lead to to laws being created where Indigenous women loosing their status cards
-he relationship between conformity and alienation as seen through the Indian Act is Indiegnosu women losing their status cards when marrying out and their children were seen as illegematie
The Indian Act:
-The Indian Act is the principal law through which the federal government administers Indian status, local First Nations governments and the management of reserve land and communal monies. The Indian Act does not include Métis or Inuit peoples. The Act came into power on 12 April 1876.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission: By the Numbers:
-The church that operated most of the residental schools was the Catholic Chruch
-150,000 children were involved in residental schools
-the odds of dying in a residential school 1 in 25 and in early years it was 1 in 2
-31,970 claims from former students because of sexual assualt
-former students recived $2.8 billion in compensation
- Poverty
Terms (income, wealth, poverty, working poor)
Poverty in Canada (definitions)
- Poverty: Terms (income, wealth, poverty, working poor)
Low-income cut off line (LICO)
Low income cut-offs (LICOs) are intended to convey the income level at which a family may be in straitened circumstances because it has to spend a greater portion of its income on the basics (food, clothing and shelter) than does the average family of similar size.
Absolute Poverty: the deprivation of resources that are considered essential- enough food and fresh water, and a safe place to live
Relative Poverty: measuring the deprivation of some people against those who have more
Working poor: working people whose incomes fall below a given poverty line due to low-income jobs and low familial household income
income: Income is the money received in exchange for labor or products
- Evolving Roles
Singularity, pluralism, inclusiveness
Employment Equity Act
Alternative Environmental Paradigm
- Evolving Roles–>Singularity, pluralism, inclusiveness
Singularity: Believe that everyone should act and think the same way.
pluralism: Widespread acceptance of differences in culture, religion, values and lifestyle
inclusiveness:
- Evolving Roles–>Employment Equity Act
All employers at the federal level (armed forces, health care, postal service) must tackle systemic discrimination. The four groups are women, Indigenous people, members of visible minorities and people with mental or physical disabilities
-This Act requires employers to develop policies to provide the target group with workplace equity by setting hiring goals for each target group
Another part of the EEA was Equal pay for work of equal value: job classifications must be compared for the skills they require and the responsibilities they involve, their working conditions and the effort required, these must be paid at the same rates.
Example: secretaries (mainly women) versus warehouse workers (mainly men), warehouse workers would get paid more but both jobs are equally valued. This is hard to prove and sometimes the government will pay out workers to avoid legal fees.
2nd part of the Employment Equity Act was to provide equal pay for work of equal value
This means that jobs are classified according to skills, responsibilities, working conditions and the effort required. Jobs scoring equally according to these categories must be paid at the same rates.
- Evolving Roles–> Workforce participation rates
Women’s participation rates in the workforce have increased over the years as society has changed
- Evolving Roles–>Alternative Environmental Paradigm
holds that society must place a higher importance on non-material values, encourage stronger communities built on better personal relationships and act with a greater respect for nature.
We can only achieve this ideal through economic development that respects nature for its own sake and that refrains from exploiting the natural world for short-term economic gain, while ultimately destroying it
- Ethics in Research
Ethical vs. unethical experiments
- Ethics in Research–>Ethical principles
The American Psychological Association (APA) has provided a set of Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct which regulates research practices and professional behaviour.
- Researchers must provide informed consent to participate – the investigator must inform participants of all features of the research that might influence their willingness to participate (subjects must sign a document).
2.Deception cannot be used unless determined that the use of deceptive techniques is justified by the study’s significant scientific or educational value.
- Consider the Milgram Experiment we discussed in class
The investigator must take all reasonable steps to ensure the confidentiality of subjects.
- The investigator must take all reasonable steps to ensure the confidentiality of subjects.
- Participants are free to back out of the study at any time.
- The investigator must protect participants from physical and mental discomfort, harm and danger. Participants must be informed of any risk. All measures should be taken to minimize distress.
- After the study has taken place, participants should be debriefed – they should be provided with the hypothesis being tested and reasons for concealment or deception should be given.
- Ethics in Research–> Blue eyes and brown eyes experiment
- Created by Jane Elliot
- Preformed on children (3rd grades + non-ethical) and adults (Operah Winferey Show)
- One day for the 3rd graders blue eyes were favoured and the next day brown eyes were favoured. Chidlern did not learn from the bullying and builled their peers when they gained power. However, lesson stuck with them till adulthood. Doen after the death of MLK to teach about discrimination to white middle class childern who are privilaged
- Done on the Operah Winferey Show; brown eyes were favoured and those with brown eyes got a power trip
- Ethics in Research–> Experiment examples
Nazi Twin Experiments
Guatemala Syphilis Experiments
Puerto Rican Birth Control Pill Trials
The Origin of Violence Study at Columbia university
Nuclear Savage
Milgram Experiment
Zimbardo Experiment
9.Technology
What is technology
Social change theory
Technological determinism
Impact of technology on the individual and society
Traditional theories of social change and the role of technology
The Human Factor (group work slides)
9.Technology–>What is technology
Creation of tools or objects that both extends our natural abltilites and alter our soical eviroment.
9.Technology–>Social change theory
looks at the factors contributing to change within the structure of society. Someone invents an item and a community accepts it. Society eventually changes to adapt the item.
- Technology–>Technological determinism
social change is not necessarily initiated by the individual, but by technology. Technology takes on a life of itself, and forces people to adjust their behaviour.
- Technology–>Impact of technology on the individual and society
As a society we have become more tech driven and as humans our attention spans have gotten lower. Moreover now with phones both our mental and physical health is deteriorating we have facing issues such as phone neck and low concentration levels because of our phones constantly feeding us dopamine and distracting us. Also face to face has become less common and we are also at risk for privacy issues.
Techonosis- people feel otu of touch when they are not constantly checking their social media or emails
Future shcock- The disorienting and izzying feeling from the premature arrivial of the future
- Technology–>Traditional theories of social change and the role of technology
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9.Technology–>The Human Factor (paragraph)
How has the introduction of robotic technology affected workers’ roles in the automotive industry?
How the introduction of robotic technology affected workers roles in the automotive industry is by creating job displacement and many skill shifts within their job requirements. Furthermore, workers are now expected to have specialized knowledge in robotics and technology as cars have shifted to being less manual. Also with robotic technology coming in, many have lost their job as a result of robotics.
Unethical experiments: Twins of Auschwitz experiment.
What was the experiment testing?
The experiment focused on testing genetic theories and hereditary traits, specifically concerning twins. He was interested in studying how genetic traits were passed down and whether environmental factors could influence or change these traits. His experiments involved:
The inheritance of physical features like eye colour and body structure
The genetic basis for twinning itself
The effects of extreme medical procedures on the human body.
How did the experiment take place?
Twins were pciked out from the groups of people and seperated from families. Medical experiment were done on twins to justify what the Nazi’s were doing to the Jewish people . (Basically saying its scientifically proved Germans are better than Jewish people and that Jewish people need to be studied for scientific reasons)
What were the results of the experiment?
The results of the experiment were horrific and didn’t have any real scientific value. Mengele claimed that he was studying genetics and wanted to learn how traits like eye colour or the tendency to have twins was inherited. He use to abuse the children by injecting them with dangerous substances, exposing them to diseases and even removing body parts without any anesthesia. Some even died from infections and injuries caused by the experiment. If one twin died during an experiment he would kill the other one as well to compare the bodies. So in short, the experiments caused immense suffering and death but the procedure didn’t have any scientific value.
Was this an ethical experiment? (consider the ethical principles)
if no, explain why.
No it was not an ethical experiment for many reasons such as the twins not consenting to the experiments happening nor could they withdraw from the experiments when they wanted to, they were taken against their will
Did this experiment have damaging effects on the participants?
This experiment caused severe, long lasting damage to the participants, including:
Physical damage: many victims were maimed, killed, or left with lifelong health problems due to the invasive surgeries, injections, and trauma
Psychological damage: the survivors suffered severe trauma, with many experiencing PTSD, nightmares, and guilt from witnessing the death of their twin or others. Even years later, they struggled with the emotional scars of Mengele’s cruelty
Loss of family and identity: Many children lost their families, and survivors were often left without names or identities. Some could not even remember their own names after liberation, as they has been reduced to numbers.
Unethical experiments: Project 4.1 (Nuculear Savage)
What was the name of the experiment?
Project 4.1
What was the experiment testing?
The experiment was testing the effects of radiation exposure on humans.
It examined the physiological and genetic effects of exposure to high levels of radiation.
How did the experiment take place?
The first of 67 nuclear weapons tests was conducted on Bikini Atoll in July 1946.
What were the results of the experiment?
- Sickness, deformed babies, displacement of people.
Was this an ethical experiment? (consider the ethical principles)
if no, explain why.
-No this was not an ethical experiment
1) Informed consent was not given my the participants,
2) Participants were not free to back out of the study at any time
3) Participants were not protected from any mental or physical discomfort
Did this experiment have damaging effects on the participants?
-This experiment lead to severe radiation exposure causing long lasting health impacts like cancer,birth defects and sickness. It also caused long term physiological impacts such as PTSD.
Unethical experiments: Puerto Rican Birth Control Pills
What was the name of the experiment?
This is known as the Puerto Rico Birth Control Experiment.
This was an early clinical trial conducted in the 1950’s
It was conducted by Doctor Gregory and Doctor John Rock
What was the experiment testing?
Used to test the effectiveness of a contraceptive pill, which eventually became the birth control pill
Criticized for how ethical it is because of lack of consent.
How did the experiment take place?
Before experimenting on humans, the drug had only been tested on rats and rabbits (animals)
The first major experimentation of the birth control pill took place at a public housing in Puerto Rico where 1500 women took the drug
Three women died; no autopsies conducted
Unclear if those women died via the drug’s effects or large doses of the drug that is much more than what would be given today
Controversy regarding giving a new drug to a population of women who came from nations outside of the US + poorer communities
Intentions of testing birth control pills in Puerto Rico included…
Easy flight from US mainland
No laws against birth control
Overcrowding in certain communities made researchers interested if they could lower the overall population of the community via birth control
4) What were the results of the experiment?
Frequent complaints of dizziness and nausea (first year of trial)
Birth control (Enovid) was marketed in the US as a treatment for gynecological disorders
Unexpected blood clots sometimes occurred with women who took the pill
Women in Puerto Rico felt like they were used as test subjects
Not fully informed of the effects of the new drug despite the arguments and complainants in the US
Many disputed the fact that women didn’t have much of a say on whether or not the drug was effective + intating improvements to the drug and how they were tested
Men who held the higher positions as legislators, doctors and drug company representatives were the ones that had a voice in this issue
Was this an ethical experiment? (consider the ethical principles)
Investigator must protect participants: Women did not know of the potential health defects, they only knew about the pill’s main use, which was preventing pregnancy.
The women were not provided health or care when they needed help due to their symptoms
Innovation of the pill not causing pregnancy was more important than the symptoms the patients were experiencing.
Did this experiment have damaging effects on the participants?
Many women had to be hospitalized for severe symptoms
Health permanently impacted and mental health as well
Exploitation leaves negative mental health impacts.
Many women became too sick to work → family structures were affected.
Guatemala Syphilis Experiments
What was the name of the experiment?
Guatemala Syphilis Experiments
What was the experiment testing?
to determine whether taking penicillin after sex would protect against syphilis, gonorrhea and chancroid
How did the experiment take place?
Conducted their experiments in Gutamula becaused they knew they could get away with how unethical it was
What were the results of the experiment?
At least 5,500 prisoners, mental patients, soldiers and children were drafted into the experiments, including at least 1,300 who were exposed to the sexually transmitted diseases syphilis, gonorrhea and chancroid, the commission reported. At least 83 subjects died, although the commission could not determine how many of the deaths were directly caused by the experiments, they said.
- Was this an ethical experiment? (consider the ethical principles) if no, explain why.
- No it violated human rights, subjects were sib jected to harm and had no knowledge of what was going to happen and to what degrfee
Zimbardo Experiment (Stanford Prison Experiment)
What was the experiment testing? -
-the conflict between obedience to authority and personal conscience and testing how willingly participants would follow the roles of guards and prisoners in a realistic role-play setting
How did the experiment take place?
24 college students were picked out with a clean slate background. Each participant was randomly assigned a guard or prisoner role, placed in a prison environment. Keeping this as realistic as possible, “prisoners” were arrested in their homes and taken to the prison with no warnings. Guards were issued uniform and black sunglasses to make eye contact with prisoners limited. No physical violence was permitted
What were the results of the experiment?
Some guards became tyrannical and abusive in their behavior toward prisoners. For the prisoners, the experience led to acute anxiety, emotional depression, crying, and rage.
Was this an ethical experiment? If no, explain why. - Kaviya
-No, the experiment was not ethical. It violated the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th APA ethical principles. Subjects were not kept confidential, they were denied access to leave upon request, they experienced extreme psychological damage, and researchers took no responsibility to avoid distress or harm. There are also no evident mentions of opportunities for the subjects to have debriefed.
Did this experiment have damaging effects on the participants? - Camila
Yes, this experiment left a lot of the participants with emotional and psychological effects.due to the sadistic and degrading demands of the ‘guards’, many of the ‘prisoners’ went through emotional breakdowns (having feelings of distress, rage, sadness, etc.), mistreatment, and even felt guilt and anxiety after the experiment.
Origin of Violence Experiment
What was the experiment testing?
were given intravenous doses of fenfluramine to test a theory that violent or criminal behavior may be predicted by levels of certain brain chemicals.
How did the experiment take place?
In the experiment at the New York Psychiatric Institute, 34 children, all of whom were 6- to 10-year-old black or Hispanic boys, were given intravenous doses of fenfluramine to test a theory that violent or criminal behavior may be predicted by levels of certain brain chemicals. The mothers were then asked to bring the children into the experiment. In return, they were given $125.
What were the results of the experiment?
The investigation was prompted by criticism from patient advocacy groups over whether these children may have been used in experiments in which they had no hope of medical benefit, but may have been exposed to substantial risk. Federal regulations prohibit such experiments except under unusual conditions.
- could have caused health damges to the kids hearts if higher doses were given
-In the two experiments published jointly by researchers from Queens College and Mount Sinai, the subjects were 66 boys between ages 7 and 11 with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The boys were taken off their medication for attention deficit and intravenously given fenfluramine to measure for a chemical they believe is linked to aggression.
4) Was this an ethical experiment? (Marcus)
- Could have harmed the kids and took them off there AHDH medication which caued mental discomfort
Did this experiment have damaging effects on the participants?
- Took boys off their medication
Adminstred harmful drugs
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