Watson and Raynor (1920)
- Heavily criticised for causing stress, anxiety, humiliation or pain
- Little Albert (9), was used to see if a phobia can be taught by classical conditioning
- systematically frightened using a rat and loud noise
- completed over a period of months
Benefits to society/economy
- Could negatively affect the reputation of psychology (researches can struggle to find
willing participants)
+ Many have benefited from the development of systematic desensitisation
+ Darey (2007) - SD is the most successful treatment for phobias
+ SD has saved millions in NHS funding
Bowlby (1944)
- Early deprivation is correlated with becoming a thief after involving 88 children from the
child guidance clinic he worked at
Ethical Issues
- Valid consent (children were selected without appropriate parental support)
- Confidentiality (published private details)
- Risk of stress, anxiety, humiliation or pain
Benefits to society/economy
- Discrimination to mothers who work
- Has shaped childcare policy and procedures (maternity and paternity leave)
Milgram (1963)
- Conducted a series of experiments investigating obedience to authority, even if it meant
inflicting harm on another person
Ethical Issues
- Deception -> participants were deceived about the aim of the research, nature of the
activity and who other participants were
- Risk of stress, anxiety, humiliation and pain
Benefits to society/economy
- Encouragement for abdication for any personal responsibility
+ Possibly reduced potential discrimination
+ Helped understand dynamics of war and acts as a warning
Use of the Code of Conduct
- Maximise the benefits whilst minimising the risks
BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct
- Respect
- Competence
- Responsibility
- Integrity
Additional Ethical Guidelines
- Valid consent
- Heavily criticised for causing stress, anxiety, humiliation or pain
- Little Albert (9), was used to see if a phobia can be taught by classical conditioning
- systematically frightened using a rat and loud noise
- completed over a period of months
Benefits to society/economy
- Could negatively affect the reputation of psychology (researches can struggle to find
willing participants)
+ Many have benefited from the development of systematic desensitisation
+ Darey (2007) - SD is the most successful treatment for phobias
+ SD has saved millions in NHS funding
Bowlby (1944)
- Early deprivation is correlated with becoming a thief after involving 88 children from the
child guidance clinic he worked at
Ethical Issues
- Valid consent (children were selected without appropriate parental support)
- Confidentiality (published private details)
- Risk of stress, anxiety, humiliation or pain
Benefits to society/economy
- Discrimination to mothers who work
- Has shaped childcare policy and procedures (maternity and paternity leave)
Milgram (1963)
- Conducted a series of experiments investigating obedience to authority, even if it meant
inflicting harm on another person
Ethical Issues
- Deception -> participants were deceived about the aim of the research, nature of the
activity and who other participants were
- Risk of stress, anxiety, humiliation and pain
Benefits to society/economy
- Encouragement for abdication for any personal responsibility
+ Possibly reduced potential discrimination
+ Helped understand dynamics of war and acts as a warning
Use of the Code of Conduct
- Maximise the benefits whilst minimising the risks
BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct
- Respect
- Competence
- Responsibility
- Integrity
Additional Ethical Guidelines
- Valid consent
