Ethical Consideration in Psychological Research
In order to develop thorough and concrete information, scientific research becomes a necessity. Especially with psychology, scientists have more factors at risk with live subjects. By the American Psychological Association (APA) ethical standards, debriefing and the subject's comfort takes priority over the experiment itself. On paper, everything looks pretty straight forward. However, the unfortunate case for Stanley Milgram on obedience contradicts the whole theory. In replicated experiments, I learned that the subjects, despite the urge to pull out of the experiment, were strongly encouraged to complete the experiment. Tricked into giving an actor progressively high voltage electric shocks, the subjects completed the experiment with extreme uneasiness. Ethically, the concept feels inhumane to trick innocent people into causing more danger.
Animals in Psychological Research
As far as animal experimentation goes on paper, I disagree little. Unless experimental scientists take advantage of the animals through traumatic abuse, I would not oppose to the rules already in place. Unfortunately, experimental scientists take often take advantage of animal torture. As a result, consequences put them back in their place. Simply put, treat animals like one would treat people. Unless one has a justifiable cause for inflicting harm without consent, do not take any immature actions. Meanwhile, animal testing provides a small scale test for the human species. With the selfishness of human health improvement as a top priority, animals provide the necessity to advance the means of science.
Ethical Correlation Between Interviews and Torture Interrogations
The main paradox arises for APA members working for the government. Though they oath to no humiliating dignity, religion, etc in the 1949 Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, government authority takes all prescedence. The APA specifically defines torture in its 1984 Convention Against Torture as without using instruments. However, Congress passed legislation allowing torture with agonizing physical pain and elongated mental suffering. In specific occasions such as Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prisoners have committed suicide out of trauma and pain. Ironically, the federal government does not perceive the torturing at Guantanamo Bay inhumane treatment. I understand that the military wants to obtain information from its hostages and prisoners, but the government's response that water boarding, stress positions, sleep deprivation, etc. remains humane tactics baffles me. Especially with an increased amount of psychiatric techniques, psychiatrists and psychologists have officially put ethics second to government authority. I see ethics superior to government authority. Though I may go against the norm and risk a successful career in the U.S. military, I would not live with guilt for traumatizing people's lives.
Anna,
ReplyDeleteYour points are very valid. They are clear and concise, they make sense. Your concepts on torture in the military baffle me however. The military, by and large, can prove to be a career choice that may require you in the defense of your nation to harm others for the safety of her citizens. So I must ask how you can object of finding out intelligence to protect not only family back home, but potentially your brothers in arms? Provided, I understand that not all military positions require the harming of enemy combatants, but thought of the conscientious objector idea in a volunteer military baffles me. Provided, I still think what you want to do for your country is more than honorable, and God bless you for your want to join the service.
Anna,
ReplyDeleteOur irresponsible,audacious, and fickle nature as a human race never cease to shock me. We discuss animal torture and other inhumane scientific experiments as if they are very distant topics, it's hard to believe we altered the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in America by giving them lobotomies.... the "patient"'s obedience being the justification for such a grotesque act. I know that you disagree with torture performed by the military, Firstly I must point out that we have come a long way from how torture was previously utilized: usually cruel entertainment, next I would like to say that such torture retains good intentions. Even Christians condone war and acts of self defense, wouldn't you agree that torture used by the military is a sort of form of self defense? Lastly I'd like to say that my father was a naval officer and never performed torture on another being, nor is he a violent torture junkie and as a navy brat I am able to see that torture is simply a tool in the United States' tool box, but not every problem requires a hammer