A2 AQA Issues Animalsforagainst

7/27/2019 A2 AQA Issues Animalsforagainst

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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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A2 AQA Issues Animalsforagainst

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