PY4 - Psychology: Controversies, Topics and Applications
Institution
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A fully written essay arguing the ethical costs of conducting psychological research on individual participants and wider society as a whole. Essay argues the ethical benefits and drawbacks. Worth 24/25
PY4 - Psychology: Controversies, Topics and Applications
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Ethical Costs of PR
Although there are many benefits to society resulting from psychological
research, and ethical guidelines have improved greatly in recent years, PR
arguably still involves significant costs to society and participants. This essay
will examine the extent to which this is true.
One way it can be argued that PR involves ethical costs is in terms of
potentially negative consequences to society. An example of research with
potentially negative effects on society is Bowlby’s study of the 44 thieves.
Bowlby concluded that the delinquent, affectionless character was as a result
of frequent and prolonged separation from a child's mother. The ethical cost of
this is that mothers of delinquent children are blamed/looked down upon due
to the findings of Bowlby's research and the reasons for prolonged separation
and other factors that could result in delinquent behaviour. Bowlby’s research
demonstrates PR can involve huge ethical costs, in terms of negative
consequences to society (e.g. putting increased pressure on mother's whose
children engage in unlawful activity).
However, Bowlby may be an example of PR that benefits society. Greater
understanding of habitual delinquency and prolonged separation led to
changes to developmental policy and practice when it comes to how we care
for young children as factors such as love and care are considered. Changes to
developmental policy may benefit society as now we understand that
Deprivation that stems from lack of care and nurture can have detrimental
effects on brain development. This shows that PR can involve ethical benefits,
which may outweigh the costs because it has benefitted the way in which we
are for children.
PR can be argued to have ethical costs is in terms of individual participants. In
Milgram’s study of obedience, it was found that all participants went up to
300v and 65% gave shocks up to 450v. From Milgram’s study it was concluded
that people are willing to obey an authoritative figure even to the point of
harming another person. These conclusions resulted in large ethical costs for
participants. Jacob Slater, a participant of the study, stated that when he was
debriefed later felt horrified and "nothing [could] take away from [him] the
knowledge of how [he] acted”. Milgram’s research exposed participants to the
risk of psychological and physical harm (3 of them had seizures). This shows
welfare of individual participants can’t be ignored.
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