Animals 1234

He awakens to the sound of whimpers. He then tilts his head to the sound of shoes clinking on the concert floor, and then the light enters his small cage. He raises his head, tail between his legs, to look at the men peering down at him. He knows that the pain from the electric shocks is waiting for him. He doesn’t know why they want to hurt him, after all he’s just a dog.

Since psychology’s founding, animals has been used as an important way for psychologist to test their hypnosis, and conduct experiments. From Pavlov’s experiments with Dogs and response, to a modern lab studying the brain of sleeping rats, Animals have provided a huge opening in psychological testing. A significant amount of psychological tests would be impossible without the use of animals. Some people claim the psychological research on animals is inhumane citing psychological test involving electric shocks. Others, however, claim that psychological testing on animals, not only provides important research to help improve the lives of both people and animal, but also creates a way to preform test that would be impossible with human subjects.

The American Psychological Association (2013) approves of research on animals as long as the test meets the association’s guidelines. The guideline is very in-depth, but the two especially important points are: that the research has an acceptable scientific purpose, and has a reasonable chance of improving the health or welfare of animals or humans. The guideline advises against tests that harm the animal, however if the researchers can prove that the test is important enough they may be able to conduct their studies.

Is there middle ground for psychological research in animals? Perhaps there is a more Rogerian solution...

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...subjects. A final note is that the majority of studies conducted on animals are conducted for Comparative psychology. Comparative Psychology is the branch of psychology dedicated to nonhuman animals (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2014).

So where is the middle ground in animals use in psychological research? In summary of all the information mentioned in this paper we are, in a way already at the middle ground. Since the majority of psychological research is conducted for comparative psychological gain, then it is in the best interest of animals to be used in the research. How can the use of animals in research are considered truly cruel to animals if it is in that species best interest. Along with the strict regulations out in place by the APA and the IACUC, I believe that the Rogerian style middle ground is achieved. I fully support the study of animals in psychology.