Lab Experiment
12 participants locked in a lab for 13 weeks, being set nerve-testing
challenges, having their food supply limited, not being aloud to
sleep, leading to physical violence verbal abuse and sex. If this was
conducted under the front of a psychology experiment uproar would
occur concerning its ethical issues, however under the front of a
television game show these ethical and moral issues don't arise.
Surely it is just as psychologically damaging to its participants as a
lab experiment even with its glamorized appearance and hefty prize
money?
From a viewers perspective this was very entertaining to watch however
when Vanessa and Makousi were announced to be up for eviction it was
obvious this caused Vanessa a considerable amount of stress as her
fellow housemates proceeded to vote her out of the house.
Ethics are vital when planning and conducted a lab experiment. Every
possible element has to be meticulously analysed to ensure its
participants incur as limited psychological damage as possible. The
British psychological society ethical guidelines and code of conduct
are the regulations used by psychologists when conducting a
psychological experiment. Many of these are broken in reality
television programs however the worst offender is Big Brother, but
because it is classed under the pretence of a reality television
program it can bypass these rules to provide entertainment.
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Every experiment should always be considerate towards its
participants, experimenters and if applicable an audience. The
research shouldn't be offensive towards participants and shouldn't
threaten a person's health well being or dignity. It is difficult to
classify offence and dignity but big brother puts its participants in
obviously undignified situations such as in big brother 5 when
contestants had to drag themselves through an assault course
containing animal carcasses, tar and feathers. Another more shocking