Ethical guidelines for the use of animals in psychological research

Ethical guidelines for using animals in research

This involves use of non-humans in experimentation in various fields. This can be medical, psychological etc. Animals being used in research has played a greater role in several scientific and medical advances of the previous century and continues to assist our understanding of basic principles underlying behavior and to progressing the welfare of both human and nonhuman animals.

Due to these advances in animal incorporation in research activities, people all over the globe enjoy better quality life with the presence of new development of medicines and drugs.

However, this has become a controversial subject in many countries. Animal rights extremists and anti-vivisectionist groups form a majority of those who push for immediate and total abolition of all animal research. They believe and say that animal experimentation is both cruel and unnecessary with no regard to its purpose or benefit.

The other group believes in use of animals in research is highly beneficial. It should be done within an ethical framework to control their use hence avoid causing them unnecessary suffering.

Advantages of using animals in research

i. For medical advancement: this is based on the idea that human life is more precious than animals’ life. Testing potentially new medicines through animal testing means few animals that are sacrificed or tested upon have a less worth than the many animals which are therefore saved or helped. Medical tests are done on animals then if they succeed, then they are done on humans.

ii. A huge sample of animals can be used in a research project thus results are more reliable. This is because they reproduce quickly and grow faster as considered to humans.

iii. Product safety is another key issue. The side effects of tests on animals are minimal than on humans and the safety of people outweighs the safety of animals. The products (animals in this case) can be reused for more tests later.

iv. It is not ethical to use humans in research. Not many persons can accept to participate in the exercise and human rights activists will obviously not go easy on the same.

v. Use of animals since they are unlimited, gives a chance to experiment in wider scopes. This is an excellent source to increase scientific knowledge. It also gives an insight to the long term and future prospects.

Disadvantages of using animals in research

i. Animals used for testing undergo torture and suffering. Whatever is done on them isn’t an issue of them to decide on. These animals can die in extreme cases or develop serious complications due to the tests administered on them.

ii. Using animals in research purposes which is applied to human behavior can give inaccurate results. Animals may be completely different in humans and therefore the results on animals cannot be generalized to humans.

iii. On an ethical perspective, people consider using animals in tests as unethical. This is because animals have no choice or cannot volunteer for the tests. These people believe that it is only ethical to test on subjects who willingly give their consent for self-testing.

iv. The price of keeping and disposing the animals used in these tests can be expensive as compared to use of computer simulations considering the technological enhancements.

Ethical issues that have been a cause for concern when dealing with the use of animals for research purposes

Using animals for scientific, academic purposes and or research is only acceptable when the effects (physical or psychological) on the animals is outweighed by the benefits of the research.

Pain, suffering and distress on the animals is one of the key issues raised by the antagonists of animal use in testing. The animals are captured (wild animals for instance) using crude means some of which end up giving the animals physical injuries. During their movement also, animals are subjected to unconducive conditions for their wellbeing.

Animals have no means of expressing themselves of how painful or strenuous a certain exercise is. They are subjected to any test by the professionals regardless of its effect on the animal. These animal rights activists argue that animals too have a right to be treated well.

In most cases, animals are bred or captured from elsewhere then moved to new locations for the tests to be administered on them. This movement from their natural and used to habitats affects the animals psychologically in a great dimension, a subject which has caused an uproar in many who are against animal use. This is because it may lead to hormonal imbalances and a deviation from the normal behavior of animals normal.

The housing units where the animals are kept during tests may not be conducive as the animal’s natural habitats. This affects the animal’s performance, growth, etc. in a greater dimension.

Animals may grow thinner and even die due to the stress they are subjected to. The diet also changes which alters their productivity.

The drugs, physical or psychological tests administered on them may have adverse effects on the animals. This is not taken into account in most cases which becomes an issue of concern when dealing with animals in research purposes.

After the tests, animals may become partially or totally paralyzed or in extreme cases death. This is not however taken into consideration which raises concern from the animal society. The painful unwarranted demise of these animals after being used, and the results botched up being unaccounted for is what they want addressed.

The animals that die during these exercises need to be disposed well to avoid effects to the surroundings.

The personnel that administer these tests may not always be knowledgeable on the animal’s behaviors and or about. This raises the question of whether if the animals are subjected to well supervised tests with their interests well taken care of.

Isolation and crowding of animals is another issue raised. The animals are isolated from their colleagues and or many of them crowded in a small place that isn’t adequate for their survival.

Animals may be intentionally deprived of food, perches for birds etc. This affects the animal’s growth and response naturally. It is wrong to do this intentionally since in the long run it results into reduced bodyweight and other complications.

Correct species should be used for a particular test to avoid unnecessary suffering to wrong subjects.

Some tests administered to gain knowledge of applied problems, e.g. parasite loads, pesticides or homeostatic challenges. These are carried out in adverse conditions that are severe to the animal’s wellbeing.

What a behavioral psychologist must do in order to ensure proper ethical and physical care of their research animals.

The animals to be used should be captured in an animal friendly manner that does not affect their wellbeing.

Minimal amount of animals should be used in the research tests to minimize the effects of the tests being on a large number of the animals.

Proper studies and research should be done to ascertain that the species used is most convenient and relevant on the study. This is to ensure the study results are more relevant and effective in the real world.

To minimize suffering, the animals should be fed well. Also, seek alternatives to aversive stimuli and deprivation strategies. This include the use of highly preferred foods and other rewards that may motivate even satiated animals.