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The use of animals
Constraints on the use of animals
Arguments for and against their use in
psychological research Practical
Moral & ethical
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The use of animals
Many pitfalls for the unwary:
Unsubstantiated assertion e.g. animals feelas much pain as humans
Nave assumptions e.g. animalresearchers do it because theyre evil andthey enjoy it
Irrelevance e.g. writing about medical,surgical or cosmetic research, notpsychological investigations
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The use of animals
Many examples are possible, from
many different areas e.g.:
Developmental (maternal deprivation) Physiological (stress, sleep)
Abnormal (drug treatments)
Try to select a variety to showsynopticity
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Constraints on use
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act
Licensing & inspection
Constraints on numbers & species Requirements for suitable facilities
Competence & qualification requirements
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Constraints on use
BPS guidelines on animal research
Specific application to psychology
Requirement for humane treatment Requirement to consider alternatives
Cost benefit analysis
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Arguments for
Practical arguments (is it useful?)
Continuity
Convenience Usefulness
Ethical arguments (is it moral?)
Utilitarianism Duty to species
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Continuity
We share common ancestry with other
animals (Darwin, 1859)
Basic similarities in physiological structure& functioning
Behavioural similarities with some species
(e.g. primates)
Animal research therefore gives validinformation about human processes
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Convenience
Animals can be used in ways humans
cant
Short lifespans & breeding cycles enableinheritance to be studied
Behaviour can be controlled and monitored
in ways impossible with people
Less reactivity
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Usefulness
Animal research is demonstrably usefulto psychologists
Knowledge of nervous system structure &
functioning Understanding of stress, abnormal
behaviour, sleep
Our understanding of human behaviourwould be very limited if not for animalresearch
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Ethical arguments
Utilitarian
The suffering of a small number of animalsis justified because it helps a large number
of people Moral duty
We have a moral obligation to our ownspecies to advance knowledge and reducesuffering. Animal research is justified if itfurthers this (Gray, 1991)
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Other points
The constraints on the use of animals
protect animals sufficiently and prevent
unnecessary suffering
This is shown by:
Reduction in number and range of animals
used in labs
Increase in non-invasive & field-based
studies
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Arguments against
Counterarguments to those presented
in favour of animal research
Discontinuity or continuity?
Ecological validity
Generalisability
Moral arguments
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Discontinuity or continuity?
Points out an inconsistency in continuity
argument
If other animals are so similar to us they
should be afforded the same ethical
considerations as us
Or, if they are so different from us, then
generalisation is of questionable value
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Ecological validity
Questions the value of the data
obtained from animal studies
Lab based animal studies produce
unnatural behaviour (e.g. drug addiction
studies)
Field studies disturb the environment &
consequently, behaviour
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Generalisability
Suggests that even when data are valid,they cant be applied to humans
Differences in human and animal evolution
& genes Structural differences in nervous system
(e.g. cerebral cortex)
Influence of language, culture, highercognitive processes
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Moral arguments
Utilitarianism gives human sufferingpriority over animal suffering this is aform of discrimination (speciesism;
Singer, 1975) Animals have rights as people do. We
have a moral obligation to protect them.
No amount of regulation can justifyanimal research
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Other points
Safeguards are difficult to enforce; abuses
may be undetected
Cost benefit analyses as required by
guidelines easily skewed in favour ofresearch
The fact that you never know in advance the
outcome of research means that some willalways be useless
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Conclusions
These are up to you, but make sure
you
Look at both sides
Present a balanced argument
Use suitable examples to support your
claims
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