Ethical Issues and Non-human Ethical Issues and Non-human AnimalsAnimals

Likely Question:Likely Question:

Discuss ethical issues in the use of non-Discuss ethical issues in the use of non-human animals in psychologyhuman animals in psychology

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk

Moral Justifications for Non-human 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 Non-human 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 Regan argues that we should NEVER do animal research on mature mammals, animal research on mature mammals, because they have inherent value.because they have inherent value.

You decideYou 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 decideYou 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 Arguments for Animal Research?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, The Principle of the 3Rs – Replace, Reduce, Refine.Reduce, Refine.

But – Dunayer argues this is like having But – Dunayer argues this is like having laws on how to keep slaveslaws on how to keep slaves

AND – See Kilkenny et al (2009)AND – See Kilkenny et al (2009)

Arguments for Animal ResearchArguments 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 ResearchArguments 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 non-human animals in research:

Animals suffer – which goes against their rights, often unjustifiably because the knowledge gained is relatively limited.

Moral Arguments against using non-human 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 non-human 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 1Essay 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 2Essay Plan Paragraph 2

Moral arguments for animal research: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 3Essay 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 Show how Skinner’s research on rats and pigeons could not be done on humans and pigeons could not be done on humans and why it is justifiedwhy it is justified

Essay Plan Paragraph 4Essay 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 Describe Jouvet’s research and the limited knowledge gained from it – does it justify knowledge gained from it – does it justify the suffering of the cats?the suffering of the cats?

Essay Plan Paragraph 5Essay 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 Essay Plan Paragraph 6 – can be used for or againstbe 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, The Principle of the 3Rs – Replace, Reduce, Refine.Reduce, Refine.

But – Dunayer argues this is like having But – Dunayer argues this is like having laws on how to keep slaveslaws on how to keep slaves

AND – See Kilkenny et al (2009)AND – See Kilkenny et al (2009)

Kilkenny et al (2009)Kilkenny et al (2009)

271 animal studies in UK and USA (not all 271 animal studies in UK and USA (not all Psychological studies)Psychological studies)

Only 59% mentioned number of animals Only 59% mentioned number of animals used (+ inconsistent numbers in report)used (+ inconsistent numbers in report)

CONCLUSION – Either:CONCLUSION – Either:

Ban Animal Studies – constraints don’t Ban Animal Studies – constraints don’t workwork

Or – Improve constraints and researchOr – Improve constraints and research

Essay Plan ConclusionEssay Plan Conclusion

Write a conclusion based on the paragraphs you have already written – can animal research be justified morally?