1. Milgram’s Obedience to Authority study and Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment are both renowned but controversial studies in psychology. One notable violation of research ethics in the Stanford Prison Experiment was the lack of informed consent. Participants were not adequately informed about the potential psychological harm they might experience, nor were they aware of the extent to which their behavior would be manipulated. This contravenes the ethical principle of informed consent outlined by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Another violation was the lack of protection from harm. Participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment were subjected to psychological distress and potential long-term consequences without proper safeguards in place to protect their well-being. This breaches the APA’s ethical principle of minimizing harm to participants.
To make the study more ethically sound today, researchers could prioritize informed consent by providing detailed information about the study’s purpose, potential risks, and the right to withdraw at any time without penalty. Additionally, measures should be implemented to ensure the psychological well-being of participants throughout the study, such as regular debriefing sessions and access to mental health support if needed.
Regarding the question of whether similar insights into obedience and social roles could be gained with more ethical considerations in place, it’s possible that researchers could still uncover valuable findings. By ensuring participants’ rights are respected and their well-being protected, researchers may still observe behaviors related to obedience and social roles, albeit potentially with different nuances.
Regarding the ethical aspect of studying only white males, it’s important to recognize the limitations this imposes on the generalizability of findings. A more culturally diverse sample would provide a broader understanding of human behavior and how it may vary across different demographics. Including participants from diverse backgrounds could yield insights into how cultural factors influence obedience and social roles, enriching the study’s findings and enhancing its applicability to a wider range of populations.
My question for the class “What are some potential ethical dilemmas researchers might encounter when conducting psychological studies, And how can these dilemmas be addressed to ensure the ethical treatments of participants?”