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Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Childhood attachment, animal rights and the 'pit of despair': Harry Harlow's unethical experiments
Childhood attachment, animal rights and the 'pit of despair': Harry Harlow's unethical experiments
Childhood attachment, animal rights and the 'pit of despair': Harry Harlow's unethical experiments
Saturday 22nd October 2022
Unpack Harry Harlow's controversial monkey experiments and their influence on psychology, animal rights, and ethical research practices.
30 minutes
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Thought-provoking
Raw
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Eye-opening
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Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
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Sexual Stigmas & Myths
Mindfulness & Technology in Health
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Get the buttons here!Harry Harlow's Controversial Monkey Experiments: Unpacking Love, Affection, and Ethics
What made him both a great scientist and, in the end, a very poor ethicist is he was fearless about finding and trying to understand the questions he thought were important.
What happens when scientific curiosity crosses ethical boundaries? This episode of 'All In The Mind' takes a hard look at the infamous experiments conducted by psychologist Harry Harlow. Known for his work with infant monkeys, Harlow's studies were groundbreaking yet deeply controversial. His research shed light on the essential role of affection and touch in development, but at what cost?
The episode dives into the heart-wrenching details of Harlow's experiments, including the notorious 'pit of despair' and the emotional toll it took on the monkeys involved. Listeners will gain insight into how these experiments influenced our understanding of mother-infant bonds and spurred the animal rights movement in the US. The hosts also tackle the broader ethical questions surrounding animal research and discuss how empathy can guide us toward more humane scientific practices.
If you're curious about the fine line between scientific advancement and ethical responsibility, this episode is a must-listen.