This psychological study conducted at Stanford University aimed to investigate the effects of perceived power on human behaviour. Participants were randomly assigned to the role of prisoner or guard in a simulated prison environment, leading to psychological distress and abuse.
In this study, the U.S. Public Health Service observed the natural progression of syphilis in African-American men, withholding treatment even after effective treatments became available, resulting in the death of many subjects.
A covert biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army conducted horrific experiments on thousands of Chinese, Korean, and other prisoners of war. These experiments involved vivisections, biological weapon tests, frostbite studies, and other forms of torture, leading to the deaths of thousands of victims.
This experiment conducted at the University of Iowa aimed to induce stuttering in orphans by subjecting them to negative speech therapy. The experiment caused significant psychological trauma to the children.
Psychologist George Rekers conducted experiments attempting to change the sexual orientation of gay individuals using aversion therapy. The participants were subjected to unpleasant stimuli while being exposed to homoerotic images.
This psychological study conducted by Stanley Milgram at Yale University aimed to investigate obedience to authority. Participants were led to believe they were administering increasingly painful electric shocks to another person in a different room, who was an actor pretending to be in pain. The experiment caused psychological distress to the participants.
Psychologist Harry Harlow conducted experiments with infant rhesus monkeys, separating them from their mothers and providing them with surrogate mothers made of wire or cloth. The experiments aimed to study attachment and social behaviour, but the monkeys suffered from severe psychological distress.
Conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner, this experiment aimed to impose fear upon a child known as "Little Albert." They presented him with neutral stimuli, such as a white rat, and then paired it with a loud noise to induce fear. The experiment caused significant psychological trauma to the child, and the long-term effects are unknown.