Applications of PsychologyEthical Issues PY3

Starter Activity

• Spend 1 minute with a couple of friends identifying ways that psychology could be used in unethical ways in the real world.

Media

What is the role of a psychologist in the media?What should be the role of psychologists in the media?What are the ethical issues when psychologists get involved with the media?

2 case studiesBig BrotherInside the Mind of Paul Gascoigne

How should psychologists behave in the media?

12 Suggestions for psychologists in media• Keith-Spiegel and Koocher (1985)

1. Find out the purpose of the study if it sounds exploitative don’t get involved

2. Give a written statement to avoid misquotes3. Invite the reporter back to answer questions and edit copy4. Refuse to comment on areas you are not expert in5. Qualify all salient statements6. Do not speak for profession as a whole7. Admit when you don’t have an answer8. If the topic is controversial suggest the reporter gets a range of

views9. Call back if you have made an error10.Offer only possibilities not answers11.Don’t diagnose by media- psychological evaluations should observe

confidentiality12. Let the reporter know if you are dissatisfied with finished interview

The role of the BPS

• The BPS now recognises the demand for Psychologists in the media and has produced some guidelines:-

• Informed consent

• Manipulation of pps

• Other issues.

What is the role of a psychologist in the media?

Watch clips of Big Brother Little Brother- what are the ethical issues with this programme and the conduct of the psychologists involved?

Is it just harmless fun?

If so, why get psychologists involved?

Does it misrepresent psychology?

Does it harm participants?

You could use your own knowledge

of previous BBs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RUnb4IFAgU

What is the role of a psychologist in the media?

On July 10th 2003 Channel 4 showed a film called Inside the Mind Of Paul Gascoigne

The show set out to label all of his mental distress. Psychologist Kevin Gournay identified three types of mental disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Tourettes Syndrome.

There was no personal examination. Friends and family commented on how ‘mad’ they thought he was. Labelled for life in media. No discussion of media effect of celebrity status.

What do you think of this treatment of Gazza by a psychologist?

Positive Contributions Negative contributionsEducates public in psychological domain

Raises awareness of mental health issues

Raises profile of psychologists as scientists/professionals

Helps the public understand people who are different to them-promotes tolerance

It is interesting- we are all amateur psychologists

Helps people understand their own behaviour and they can get advice for self help

Ambiguity between advice and therapy

Misinterpreted by those not expert

Sound bites are superficial/inaccurate info

Damages vulnerable people

Labels vulnerable people- young/unwell

Encourages a superficial analysis of serious behaviour

Financial rewards will inevitably lower standards of professional behaviour

Task

• Identify two ethical issues for each case study using pg 60.

• Write a short paragraph explaining the issues and what the BPS recommendations are.

Starter

• With a partner try to identify ways that psychological knowledge might be used in advertising.

Task

• Identify the ethical issues involved in the use of psychology in advertising using pg 60 again.

• Do the ranking task on pg 4 on your handout.

Starter

• In what ways might psychology be used by the military? Discuss

• What theories/approaches in psychology might be used by the military?

USES OF PSYCHOLOGY IN THE MILITARY

• The military understands the power of psychology and its use has grown since WW2. Psychology in the military is referred to as PsyOps.

• At first PsyOps was about human resources and improving the lives of soldiers. E.g

• Mass IQ testing• psychometric testing- matching skills to jobs• Staff welfare, designing plane controls/sex education for

soldiers

Using Psychology to train animals for war

• BF Skinner was involved in training pigeons to guide missiles into enemy ships.

• Dogs and dolphins were trained during WW2 using psychological techniques to carry bombs and search danger zones

• US Navy Seals? No this is a Sea lion trained to detect mines and even leg cuff terrorists and his assistant – a dolphin.

Psy Ops

• The Psychology of combat – how to counteract CSR AND PTSD.

• Interested in the effects of captivity, interrogation techniques and brain washing

• Ethical dilemma is that research could be used to protect people from the effects or to inflict harm on enemies.

Zimbardo (1970) Stanford Prison Study

• Funded by US navy• Linked to brutality of

Japanese guards in WW2.

• Surprise arrest like POW/hostage

• Depersonalisation-hoods• Creativity of guards –

linked to lack of organisation in Japanese POW camps.

Interrogation• Torture not that effective• Soldiers trained to withstand

pain and die before they divulge anything

• Military now more interested in psychological techniques

• Why might this prevent torture from taking place?

Task

• Summarise the ethical benefits of using psychology in the military.

• Were there any ethical dilemmas involved?

• Why is the military a special case when it comes to the ethical code of conduct for psychologists?

Starter

• What do you think about torture?

• Is it wrong under any circumstances?

Disadvantages of Psy- Ops

Sensory Deprivation –Hebb et al (1952)• Most Ps lasted 2 days one lasted 5

days • Very stressful• Experienced sensory distortions• hallucinations• cant tell if awake• when released overwhelmed and

rather talkative and susceptible to propaganda!

PY3 Ethical Issues Military Applications

Sensory Disorientation• Used by British army in NI

described by Shallice (1973) • Victims suffered disorientation

through-torture/sleep deprivation/drugs/hunger and sensory deprivation

• Research is used to help prepare soldiers/get enemies to talk.

Brain washing

Dr Vincent: Example of brainwashing

• French doctor working in China• Arrested and taken to a Chinese

Communist Party re education centre• Lifton (1960) descriptive study• 3 year programme of brainwashing or

re-education?? Depends on your view!• Arrest • Depersonalisation• Struggle• Leniency• Loss of control• Study• Change

• Has modern application in training of terrorists in UK.

PY3 Ethical Issues Military Applications

Propaganda

• Research into the process is difficult as hard to detect- the best propaganda is undetectable

• Includes mild distortions of already held views and persuasive stories. Psychological processes are important here such as perception, attention and attribution.

• Conducting cultural analysis- makes it more powerful -hit right buttons. Often psychologists do this in anthropological studies.

• Power lies in control of media-e.g.. Gulf War Hometown News Programme

• The USA in Iraq avoid estimates of Iraqi casualties

• Nazis and Jews- Jews were to blame for Germany’s economic problems

• British propaganda Germans ate babies, boiled enemies for soap, raped women

PY3 Ethical Issues Military Applications

psy ops

• US operations in Vietnam studied

• Was used against Vietnamese people

• encouraged defection in Vietnamese army

• over 7million leaflets/156000 posters/month 2000 hours of broadcasting

• stories of defected fighters

Weigh up the arguments

• Should psychologists promote peace or help humans deal with war better and may be shorten the length of it?

• American Psychological Association has branch of military psychology – is this a good thing?

• Military research attracts funding. Can lead to progresses in scientific endeavour/knowledge?

• Helps soldiers work conditions?• Cultural sensitivity itself is good- use of it isn't- can you

separate the research from it’s future use?• Is any research likely to be reliable given the arena in

which it is carried out?