Transcript ethical issues and non-human animals (PPH) 2011

Ethical Issues and Non-human
Animals
psychlotron.org.uk
Likely Question:
Discuss ethical issues in the use of nonhuman animals in psychology
Moral Justifications for Nonhuman animal research
So, should we experiment on animals?
Gray (1987) YES - We have a moral
obligation to help humans before other
animals– balance human benefit v animal
suffering.
Moral Justifications for Nonhuman animal research
Singer (75) SOMETIMES – He argues this
is ‘Speciesism’ – similar to racism, but if it
results in the ‘greatest good for the
greatest number’ animal research is
justified
Regan argues that we should NEVER do
animal research on mature mammals,
because they have inherent value.
You decide
Look at this research and decide who you agree
with
Sheridan & King (1972) Electrocuting Puppies
Lashley (1929) Removing parts of rats’ brains
Seligman (1967) Electrocuting dogs
Selye (1956) Stressing rats
Jouvet – (1967) – Cats on Flowerpots –REM
You decide
What Criteria did you use?
Hopefully :
Importance of the research
No alternatives to animal research
Minimum numbers of animals used
Suffering kept to a minimum
Arguments for Animal
Research?
Animals are well-protected by law eg
“Animals(Scientific Procedures)Act”(1986)
and the BPS Guidelines of the same year.
The Principle of the 3Rs – Replace,
Reduce, Refine.
But – Dunayer argues this is like having
laws on how to keep slaves
AND – See Kilkenny et al (2009)
Arguments for Animal Research
Animals are convenient to do research on,
so we should try to use them (because
Humans are WORTH MORE – which is a
moral question).
Arguments for Animal Research
Animal research has given a lot to both
practical and theoretical psychology – eg
Learning Theory (Skinner’s rat and
pigeons), Parental Deprivation (Harlow’s
Monkeys)
Moral Arguments against using nonhuman animals in research:
Animals suffer – which goes against their
rights, often unjustifiably because the
knowledge gained is relatively limited.
Moral Arguments against using nonhuman animals in research:
Animals are qualitatively different (both
physically and mentally)from humans,
which makes it wrong for us to do
research on them when it will only give
limited insight into human behaviour.
Moral Arguments against using nonhuman animals in research:
Singer(1991) argues that there is no
justification in using animals for research
and those who do are guilty of
speciesism. He argues it is wrong to do
research on any organism that can feel
pain, because an animal’s pain is as
important as human pain.
Essay Plan Paragraph 1
Define what we mean by an ethical
issue – how do the interests of
human and non-human animals
clash.
The key question is whether human
benefits justify animal suffering
summarise Gray, Singer and Regan
Essay Plan Paragraph 2
Moral arguments for animal research:
Animal research has given a lot to
psychology – eg, Parental Deprivation
(Harlow’s Monkeys)
SHOW HOW THIS research has
benefitted humans and improved human
life eg the importance of a good bond
between mother and child in the years
after birth
Essay Plan Paragraph 3
Animals are convenient to do research on,
so we should try to use them (because
Humans are WORTH MORE – which is a
moral question).
Show how Skinner’s research on rats and
pigeons could not be done on humans and
why it is justified
Essay Plan Paragraph 4
Animals suffer – which goes against their
rights, often unjustifiably because the
knowledge gained is relatively limited.
Describe Jouvet’s research and the limited
knowledge gained from it – does it justify
the suffering of the cats?
Essay Plan Paragraph 5
Animals are qualitatively different (both
physically and mentally)from humans,
which makes it wrong for us to do
research on them when it will only give
limited insight into human behaviour.
Does Selye’s research into how rats
respond to stress really tell us how
humans will respond to stress?
Essay Plan Paragraph 6 – can
be used for or against
Do Constraints Work
“Animals(Scientific Procedures)Act”(1986)
and the BPS Guidelines of the same year.
The Principle of the 3Rs – Replace,
Reduce, Refine.
But – Dunayer argues this is like having
laws on how to keep slaves
AND – See Kilkenny et al (2009)
Kilkenny et al (2009)
271 animal studies in UK and USA (not all
Psychological studies)
Only 59% mentioned number of animals
used (+ inconsistent numbers in report)
CONCLUSION – Either:
Ban Animal Studies – constraints don’t
work
Or – Improve constraints and research
Essay Plan Conclusion
Write a conclusion based on the
paragraphs you have already written – can
animal research be justified morally?