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Unethical experiments: the Monster Study
Unethical experiments: the Monster Study
Unethical experiments: the Monster Study
Saturday 8th October 2022
Explore the infamous Monster Study, where unethical research led to lasting harm in children, and learn about its impact on modern ethics.
30 minutes
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Get the buttons here!The Monster Study: When Science Crosses Ethical Lines
Episode Overview
- Wendell Johnson's experiment aimed to prove stuttering is influenced by labelling.
- Children at an orphanage were misled into believing they had speech issues.
- The study had lasting negative impacts on children's confidence and behaviour.
- Despite early mistakes, Wendell Johnson contributed positively to speech therapy.
- The Monster Study prompted discussions on ethical standards in research.
"A stutter develops in an adult's ear, not in a child's mouth."
This episode of 'All In The Mind' takes you on a chilling journey into the past, exploring one of psychology's most controversial experiments: the Monster Study. Conducted in the late 1930s by Wendell Johnson and his graduate student Mary Tudor, this experiment sought to understand stuttering by deliberately inducing speech issues in children at an orphanage. With a title as ominous as 'Monster Study,' you'd expect a tale of scientific curiosity gone awry—and that's exactly what unfolds.
Jaunty Claypole, a writer with personal ties to stuttering, joins the discussion to unravel the ethical implications and long-lasting effects of this study. Wendell Johnson, himself a stutterer, hypothesised that labelling a child as a stutterer could create or exacerbate speech problems. To test this theory, he and Tudor misled children into believing they had speech issues, leading to devastating consequences for those involved.
Children who spoke fluently became withdrawn and self-conscious, proving that psychological scars can be just as damaging as physical ones. The podcast delves into the ethical failings of this study and its negligible scientific contributions. It also highlights the complex legacy of Wendell Johnson, who, despite his early missteps, later contributed significantly to speech therapy. With insights from Jaunty Claypole, listeners gain a deeper understanding of how past mistakes shape today's ethical standards in research.
If you've ever wondered about the cost of scientific progress or the impact of unethical research, this episode provides a sobering look at both. How do we reconcile the quest for knowledge with the responsibility to protect vulnerable subjects? Reflect on these questions as you listen to this eye-opening episode.