Of Mice and Monkeys: Ethical Issues in Animal Research

Over the course of the last century, psychological research has become increasingly governed by a strict code of ethics that cover things like obtaining participants’ consent, protecting them from possible harm and allowing them to withdraw from the research at any time and for whatever reason.

But there’s also a class of “research participant” who can’t give their consent, may be harmed and are categorically unable to withdraw from the research.

Psychology has a long and well-established history of using non-human animals for a variety of research purposes – from conditioning to attachment theory – and this short film has been designed to introduce some of the key ethical issues surrounding the use of animals in both historical and contemporary contexts through the use of four key questions:

Why are animals used in psychological research?

What are the (human) benefits that flow from such research?

What is being done to protect animals from potential harm in psychological research?

To what extent is any form of non-human animal research a breach of their rights?

Of Mice and Monkeys: Ethical Issues in Animal Research is now available to:

Rent (around 75p for 7 days) or

Buy (£4.25 to keep forever…).