why

From your knowledge of the ethical issues involved in social influence research, to what extent can such research be justified?


Every psychological investigation may be thought of as an ethical situation. In social influence it is impossible to tell the participant what is to be done without changing the nature of the study itself. Therefore ethical issues such as consent, deception, protection of participants and right to withdraw are all ethical issues raised in the investigation. Social influence has raised many ethical issues.
Psychology undergraduates were asked what percentage of subjects would continue to give shocks up to the maximum of 450 volts. The mean percentage given was 1.2%. In fact, 26 out of the 40 subjects continued to 450 volts. Only 5 dropped out at 300 volts when the pounding on the wall was heard. A further four dropped out at 315 volts.
On a 14 point scale, subjects indicated that the intensity of shock was 13.42 (mean), which was labelled 'extremely p...