Use of animals in psychological experiments - Essay Example

USE OF ANIMALS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS Research done by the psychologist is to learn more about behavior, and how the knowledge of behavior is of paramount importance to the progression of people and animals welfare. A substantial amount of research in psychology uses animals in its research, as a certain amount of animal research is synonymous to answering questions that link humans with the continuity of evolution (APA, 2009). The development of scientific expertise has shown surprising resemblances that link humans and animals and this has greatly changed the outlook about the use of animals in experimentation. However, this understanding of the similar genetic connection between humans and animals has only made the interest in experiments on animals greater. Despite this as further evidence of the range of emotions and thought processes that animals are able to experience have emerged, scientists, including psychologists, have looked for different forms of studying behavior which does not include hurting animals physically or emotionally, as the use of psychological research on animals involves insistent mental, psychological and physical stress being put on the animals (Harding, 2009). Charles Darwin's work emphasizes the link between animals and humans, it is imperative to study the unique characteristics that creatures exhibit whether they are human or non-human, as this improves our understanding, thus improving welfare of animals and humans (APA, 2009). His use of experiments on animals while working on his theory of evolution in 1859 began the history of use of animal experiments to extend the knowledge on human behavior. At the end of the nineteenth century, Ivan Pavlov (Harding, 2009) developed his experiments on the 'conditioned' responses in dogs, these experiments and the subsequent theory that developed from them, enhanced the influence and dominance of the behavioralist school of psychology. The modern treatment program, called behavior modification is based on conclusions generated on operant conditioning from Pavlov's experiments on dogs (Harding, 2009). At this time however, the behaviorist school of thought did not believe that animals were capable of any emotion, and all the descriptions of the animals behavior was based on their physiologic response to the stimuli, and not on the psychological outcomes. In the 1950's Harry Harlow's (Findarticle, 2009) well-documented experiments on monkeys developed into an important psychological theory, attachment theory. Attachment theory was a deviation from Freud's theory that the child's bond with the mother is of upmost importance in the development of the adult personality, developed by John Bowlby. Harlow's, and others, experiments with monkey's led to the further development of this theory. As attachment is a major factor in theories of child development, scientific experiments and studies have continued to be completed in this area (Findarticle, 2009). Harlow (Findarticle, 2009), made two surrogate mother dolls for the infant monkeys. One doll was built from wire and held a bottle of milk; the other was made of soft material. From a behaviorist view point, the infant monkey's should have gone to and developed an attachment the mother made of wire, because she had the food, however the monkeys developed their attachments with the mother made of soft material, which suggested that comfort is more essential for the baby monkey than food. MRMC (2009) go on to state that Harlow's 'maternal deprivation' experiments on infant monkeys created such fear in their lives, it led to some of the monkeys developing psychological impairment and maladaptive behaviors later in life. Harlow (MRMC, 2009) asserted that these results showed the significance of maternal contact, however, it is argued that these results had been made known previously in studies using humans. According to the Medical Research Modernization Committee (MRMC, 2009), animal experiments which force animals to experience painful stimuli have been widely criticized, as it is felt unnecessary to subject the animals to this cruelty, especially when the psychological problems suffered by human are the results of social, familial and cultural factors, which can not be mimicked in experiments conducted on animals. Many psychologists suggest that animal research completed on alcohol and drug addictions are also irrelevant, as they do not reflect the social, mental and hereditary factors that have been shown in so much research to be significant in this area of psychology. After more than half a century of conducting experiments on animals using alcohol, no significant understanding has been gained as to the causes of pathological drinking (MRMC, 2009). Nevertheless, the APA (2009) state that animal behavioral theories have led to a better understanding of the effects of drug abuse, and thegenetic susceptibilityor dependency to drugs. This research has given insight into the development of behavior modifying drugs over a wide range of disorders, such as Alzheimer's, anxiety and depression (APA, 2009). In the twentieth century, it was found however, that 85-90% of all animal experiments were performed on animals that were too different from humans to be able to make significant conclusions, as most of the psychological experiments were performed on rodents (Harding, 2009). However, animal research has significantly advanced our awareness, argues the American Psychological Association (APA, 2009). Research has made available information regarding a whole host of sensory process. The research has given us a more in depth knowledge of links in adaptation, evolution and an insight in precise psychological intervention. Due to animal research identifying and refining basic behavioral theory, it has led to further learning and creating a firm understanding to better treatment of complicated clinical problems, such as self-harm. Behavioral research has led to a well-informed intervention system (APA, 2009). Chemical neurotransmission, and behavioral research has led to a greater understanding of the central nervous system thus animal research has provided vital insight into the functioning of the central nervous system and this in turn has given a greater understanding of the chemicals that can be induced to speed up recovery whether it be psychological or biological (APA, 2009). Nevertheless, ethologists, Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey (Harding, 2009) proposed that primates were able to experience a complete spectrum of emotions, including both positive and negative ones, such as love and jealousy, humor and sorrow. These primates were taught over three hundred signs from the American Sign Language, and learnt how to communicate with their teachers. This and other studies which have concluded similar results of the depth of emotion felt by animals has produced doubts as the moral legitimacy of the continuance of experiments on animals. MRMC (2009) state that despite the continuance of these painful animal experiments psychologists continue to conduct them, even though many psychologists take no notice of literature on animal research. An evaluation was conducted on to clinical psychology journals for the mention of animal research, and 4,425 citations were reviewed; however, it discovered that only 33 citations referred to animal studies, only 0.75% in total. However, experiments on animals are still used quite extensively in psychological research. Animals are used in many different kind of experiments, from studies looking at alcohol-induced aggression to the effectiveness of medication for humans with a psychological disorder such as depression (Harding, 2009). Nevertheless, the American Psychological Association (APA) states that psychological research uses animals in less than ten percent of all experiments carried out, as attitudes on animal cruelty change and substitute methodologies are looked for, such as computer simulation technology (Harding, 2009). The alternative to animal testing is always considered first, but these alternatives are often inadequate, and will not produce the required effect. Plants, cultured tissue and computer simulations cannot develop some psychological or biological effects needed for the research to successful (APA, 2009). Nevertheless, there is now a common aversion for animal experiments, not previously experienced before in the psychological field. Evidence has been submitting to suggest that there is a lack of acknowledgement made in psychology textbooks of the contributions of animal experiments on the field of psychology (Harding, 2009). With the unethical connotations of experimenting on animals; do we see this type of research being ruled out As in the future as the progress with computer generated simulations and the use of generated tissue as a substitute along with the vast knowledge gained, one can argue that in the future it will not be necessary forresearch on animals to proceed, as computers can be used to simulate experimentsbased upon the volume of datathat hasbeen collectedover the years coupled with the tissue generation. This type of experimenting willbe considered obsolete as the animals do not react to certain experiments as humans do and this sort of research should gradually be phased out due to the advancement of research. REFERENCES American Psychological Association. (2009). Research with animals in psychology. Retrieved January 2, 2009 from http://www.apa.org/science/animal2.html. Findarticle. (2009). Attachment . Encyclopedia of Psychology. Retrieved January 2, 2009 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2699/is_/ai_2699000379tag=artBody;col1 Harding, L. R. (2009). Animal experimentation. Encyclopedia of Psychology. Retrieved January 2, 2009 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2699/is_0003/ai_2699000372 Medical Research Modernization Committee. (2009). Contemporary animal experimentation. Retrieved January 2, 2009 from http://www.mrmcmed.org/crit2.html Read More