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Top 10 Unethical Psychological

Experiments
Source: Maggie. "Top 10 Unethical Psychological Experiments." Listverse. Listverse, 7 Sept. 2008. Web.
23 Sept. 2016.

Psychology is a relatively new science which gained popularity in the early 20th century with Wilhelm
Wundt. In the zeal to learn about the human thought process and behavior, many early psychiatrists
went too far with their experimentations, leading to stringent ethics codes and standards. Though these
are highly unethical experiments, it should be mentioned that they did pave the way to induct our
current ethical standards of experiments, and that should be seen as a positive.

The Monster Study 1939

Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

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The Aversion Project 1970s and 1980s

Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

Stanford Prison
1971
Experiment
Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

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Monkey Drug Trials 1969

Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

Landis Facial Expressions

1924
Experiment
Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

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Little Albert 1920

Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

Learned Helplessness 1965

Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

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Milgram Study 1974

Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

The Well of Despair 1960

Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

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David Reimer 1965-2004

Purpose (what psychological phenomena was Researcher(s):
being studied):

Summary (1-3 sentences) Ethical Issues (bulleted list):

REFLECTION: When everyone in your group has finished, discuss which of the 10 experiments was the
MOST unethical. Write a paragraph reflection of your discussion below. Which did you choose and why?