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Controversies in Psychology

Controversy: Non-Human Animals — judgements and conclusions

  • 2 things to know
  • A2 Unit 3 Section B

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Recall questions on Non-Human Animals — judgements and conclusions.

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Key term

How does Regan's (1983) rights-based objection differ from Singer's?

Numbers

Which piece of UK legislation governs animal research, and what licences does it require?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How does Regan's (1983) rights-based objection differ from Singer's?

    Model answer

    Regan argues that animals are subjects-of-a-life with inherent value and therefore hold rights, so no calculation of benefit can justify using them as a means, whereas Singer's utilitarian position allows the balance of suffering and benefit to be weighed.

  2. 2

    What counter-argument does Cohen (1986) make to the charge of speciesism?

    Model answer

    He argues that rights arise within a community of beings capable of holding duties to one another, that animals cannot hold or exercise such duties, and that humans have particular obligations to other humans which justify preferring human welfare.

  3. 3

    What does the BPS Guidelines for Psychologists Working with Animals require of a researcher before a study begins?

    Model answer

    The researcher must justify the study by weighing the likely scientific gain against the cost to the animals, consider whether a non-animal alternative would answer the question, choose the species with attention to its sentience and to what is already known, and use the smallest number of animals that will give a meaningful result.

  4. 4

    What does the BPS Guidelines for Psychologists Working with Animals require about the treatment of the animals themselves?

    Model answer

    They must be obtained from reputable suppliers, housed with attention to their species-typical needs including social contact, protected from avoidable pain, distress and deprivation, cared for by competent staff, and provided for humanely at the end of the study.

  5. 5

    Which piece of UK legislation governs animal research, and what licences does it require?

    Model answer

    The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 governs it, and Home Office licences are needed for the individual researcher, for the specific project and for the establishment where the work is done.

  6. 6

    State the three Rs and who proposed them.

    Model answer

    Russell and Burch (1959) proposed replacement of animals with alternatives wherever possible, reduction in the number used, and refinement of procedures to lessen suffering.

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Psychology Past to Present — The Five Approaches
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