Problem
Denial to experimental animals of the right to freedom from suffering
Nature:
Laboratory animals are treated without the concern to avoid pain and anxiety to which they are entitled as sentient beings.
Incidence:
Since the aims of experiments upon animals in psychological research is to observe their behaviour, the experiments must necessarily be performed on conscious animals. Many experiments involve aversive procedures causing stress or pain. Deprivation of food and or water and the application of electric shocks are used routinely in learning tasks. Other fields of investigation include the effects of malnutrition, maternal deprivation, social isolation, physical restraint, sleep deprivation and situations especially designed to produce stress and anxiety. Only a minority of projects are concerned with enriched environment, pleasant stimuli and rewards. An interesting paradox which arises is that either an animal is not like humankind, in which there is no reason for performing the experiment, or else it is like humankind, in which case one ought not to do an experiment which one would not be prepared to perform on a human being.
Broader Problems:
Denial to animals of legal protection of their rights Narrower Problems:
Misuse of animals for warfare Related Problems:
Abusive experimentation on humansDenial of rights of medical patientsUncertainties in animal experimentationDenial to animals of the right to a natural death Aggravates:
Animal sufferingIntrusive animal-rights campaignersCruel treatment of animals for research Subject(s):
Research, Standards → ExperimentalSocietal Problems → Deprivation
Zoology → Animals
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST