Earlier in psychology history, many experiments were performed with highly questionable and even outrageous violations of ethical considerations. Milgram's infamous obedience experiment, for example, involved deceiving human subjects into believing that they were delivering painful, possibly even life-threatening, electrical shocks to another person.
These controversial psychology experiments played a major role in the development of the ethical guidelines and regulations that psychologists must abide by today. When performing studies or experiments that involve human participants, psychologists must submit their proposal to an institutional review board (IRB) for approval. These committees help ensure that experiments conform to ethical and legal guidelines.
Ethical codes, such as those established by the American Psychological Association, are designed to protect the safety and best interests of those who participate in psychological research.1
Such guidelines also protect the reputations of psychologists, the field of psychology itself and the institutions that sponsor psychology research
