Ethics of Using Human Subjects in Psychological Experiments

...

The study of Jankowiak-Siuda and peers demonstrates the relationship between physical attractiveness and the level of empathy response involving the activation of the brain’s empathy related regions. The functional magnetic resonance images of subjects were observed while they were viewing short videos of men and women of different attractiveness levels who were experiencing painful incidents. It was observed that stronger empathetic feelings were displayed towards less attractive men and more attractive women. Results of the experiment show that beauty in a female is valued more than in a male.

Ethics were not violated during this experiment since attractiveness of the subjects was not measured and the confidentiality of the actors in the videos was also protected. Yet, the applications of the results obtained are not discussed which queries the purpose of the study.

Korichi, R., Pelle-de-Queral, D., Gazano, G. & Aubert, A. (2011). Relation between facial morphology, personality and the functions of facial make-up in women. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 33, pp 338–345.

The experiment of Korichi and colleagues demonstrates that facial attraction is a main factor that predicts overall attractiveness of an individual and it in turn effects the individual’s self- esteem. The study inspects the influence of make-up usage of women on the behavioural profiles; ‘camouflage’ and ‘seduction’. According to the results obtained by the experiment, usage of make- up by women depends on the stability of their psychological profile and it manipulates the features of women’s faces which are responsible for attractiveness.

The subjects used during the experiment were selected voluntarily even if there is a possibility of self-esteem damage. Therefore, this could be specified as an ethical experiment. The purpose of the results involves the improvement of cosmetics to assist in development of women’s self-esteem.

Yao, S., Zhao, W., Cheng, R., Geng, Y., Luo, L. & Kendrick, K.M. (2014). Oxytocin makes females, but not males, less forgiving following betrayal of trust. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 17, pp 1785-1792.

The Experiment of Yao and peers’ correlates Oxytocin and its ability of restoring damaged trust. Results obtained suggest that oxytocin does not have a significant effect upon trust restoration. Yet the results displayed differences between genders with regard to the impact of Oxytocin in restoring damaged trust. Females on oxytocin demonstrated a lower trust renovation which makes them more unforgiving towards their partners. It was also observed that the results were more apparent on females under economic stress. The conclusion made by Yao and peers was that more forgiving females would tend to punish betrayal more when under the treatment of oxytocin.

Since the subjects were selected voluntarily, this was an ethical experiment. Yet, it does not suggest any application of the results and therefore no contributions to the field are stated.