ANIMAL RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY - MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE OF THE GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT

The general psychology course provides a unique opportunity to present the science of psychology to a wide audience. Informing the general p ublic about the importance of animal research in psychology is especia lly important given contemporary concerns about animal rights and anim al welfare. A study of 8 leading introductory psychology textbooks ind icated that with the exception of principles of conditioning and learn ing, the contributions of animal research to psychology were often not explicitly acknowledged. In addition, major findings from animal rese arch were frequently presented as if they had been obtained with human s. In obscuring the contributions of animal research, introductory psy chology textbooks miss the opportunity to ensure that public policy is based on accurate information about the significance of this research to many areas of psychological science.