Attitudes Toward the Use of Animals in Psychological Research and Education: Results From a National Survey of Psychology Majors

Abstract

This article reports the results of a national survey in which psychology majors were asked about the use of animals in psychological research and teaching In general, the attitudes of psychology majors closely resembled the attitudes of practicing psychologists Students tended to (a) support animal experiments involving observation or confinement, but disapprove of studies involving pain or death, (b) support mandatory pain assessments and the federal protection of rats, mice, pigeons, and reptiles, and (c) support the use of animals in teaching, but oppose an animal laboratory requirement for the psychology major Opposition to the use of animals was greatest among women, among students at selective schools, and among students living in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region of the country