Ethical Issues and Non-human Animals

1. Ethical Issues and Non-human Animals • Likely Question: • Discuss ethical issues in the use of non-human animals in psychology psychlotron.org.uk

2. 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.

3. 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 animal research on mature mammals, because they have inherent value.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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).

8. 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)

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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?

16. 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?

17. 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)

18. 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

19. Essay Plan Conclusion Write a conclusion based on the paragraphs you have already written – can animal research be justified morally?