Running head: PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THEIR RESULTS 1

Psychological experiments and their results

Abstract

Human brain is a perfect mechanism that led people act and behave the way they

do. This is the most important reason why scientist created psychological experiments,

because in one way we are all interested on how our brain reacts to certain things.

Psychological experiments are ways to trick our brain and see how it responses, in this

case we are able to find out what it is capable to do. Surely all psychological

experiments give results, which sometimes are similar to hypothesis, but other times they

can shock us by giving us information we would never believe unless we had not these

facts or experiment results. The results, are specific reasons why we reacted the way we

did, during an experiment and they are the only way to prove us, thinks we can’t

accept. I believe and I want to prove that psychological experiments are very helpful

ways to clarify, in details what really happens inside our brain and how it reflects

outside. Experiments were made from ancient times and they are the key of much thinks

we know about brain today ,since as they provided us clear results and convinced us,

which is the purpose why they are made. However there are differences between acient

times experiments and nowadays experiments. The better way to se this is through

examples, which I will mention later.

Psychological Experiments and their Results

Ancient Times Psychological Experiments

Psychological experiments started to be done from ancient times. Our brain was a

mystery from the beginning, therefore people started to be curious about what it hides

from us and they started to make these experiments, to the hope that they will be able

to give answers to their strong questions. Even that they obviously came to some

conclusions their way of achieving it was brutal. Since on that time a code of conduct

didn’t existed as it is today.

Code of Conduct

Code of conduct is an ethic code, due to which some

standards were given to psychologists to endow them with

details about methods that can or cannot be used during an

experiment, because it have a clear perspective for the

consequences that an experiment may have.

In this case, I can declare that no code or other principle

was used in ancient times, because their purpose was to prove their hypothesis, for this

reason they excluded to make sure that people or animals that were used will be safe

and will not have any bad consequence. Today we know some of experiments they did

and I will give an example important enough to realize how a baby was mistreated for

psychologists need.
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Little Albert Experimet

Around the age of 9 months little baby called Albert, was exposed to a series of

stimuli items such as, a dog, a rabbit and a mouse, by a psychological scientist John

Watson. Firstly, Albert reacted very normally to these animals, but then, Watson made

loud by clanging a metal bar with a hammer. This time the baby started to show

negative effects, he was scared. With this in mind Watson continued the experiment by

showing to Albert animals again including the noises he was scared of. Now Albert’s

condition became worst he started to be scared of everything that was shown to him

where the psychologist included noises.

Experiment’s Effects

Even before starting the experiment, Watson’s purpose was clear. He wanted to

include phobias or fears in the child, without thinking about Albert’s consequences he

proved his hypothesis. The worst part was that Albert had been given back to his

mother without informing her about his condition or curing him from this phobia.

I believe that there is also a good part, since this was the experiment from which

psychologists started to understand phobias search more about them and indeed do good

to the society by finding treatments. But the way they became informed about phobias

was completely wrong way.

This experiment was one of those, that led future psychologist create the code of

conduct. So these kind of experiments, that actually do harm to someone, are not legally

allowed anymore.
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Today’s Psychological Experiments

In difference from ancient times, today’s psychological experiments are very safe

and are not allowed for no reason to be harmful for someone. They also provide more

interesting conclusions about human nature. We all read articles or news and people

show a specific interest for new experiments and their results. Nowadays people like to

take psychological experiment and surprise themselves with the results. This is also a

prove that people need some changes, because their life is based on a routine, while our

brain have to be distracted with new thinks sometimes. This is the reason why in 2007

an experiment to distract human brain was made.

Piano Stairs Experiment

This experiment was made to prove that distracting human brain with something

more fun can actually change their decision or make them follow that way. In

Stockholm, Sweden subway station, musical piano steps were set up on the stair case.

That day 66% more people used the stairs rather than the easier way the escalator. I

believe that we can use this method on our everyday life to do thinks that we don’t

like by making them more fun and trick our brain.

Different Results

Experiments can certify us thinks we are sure about, but sometimes they can

prove us wrong, by giving different results from expectation. In contrast fom previous

experiment where people that live a life with a routine, chose the most beautiful way to

complete their everyday action, on this next example they did the opposite.

Violinist in the Metro Station

Like the previous one this experiment also was made on the year 2007. In

Washington D.C. Metro station, famous violinist Josh Bell, was playing music at street

as a musician. The results were shocking, because most of the people didn’t notice the

violinist, even though he was playing a $3.5 million handcrafted violin. He also have

just had a concert in Boston with ticket price of $100, while that day he finished by

making only $32. Not always people can see beauty around them and appreciate it. Most

of the time we are too busy doing same thinks and don’t have time to notice such

amazing thinks around us The best quote to explain this would be: “Perception is

essential to cognitive, emotional and social development because it determines how we

interpret and react to the sensory world around us. ”(Bornstein & Arterberry, p.170)”
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Everyday Life Experiments

Color Effects

Colors can be used in a lot of experimens to explain how our reactions are

linked with what we see. For example:

1. Colors can impact moods. Cold colors such as blue, purple and green can

make people feel calm, while warm colors such as red, orange and yellow

can make them feel agitated.

2. Certain colors can improve learning. There were teachers who used green

paper because it helps on reading better and rest the eyes. Also using

yellow paper gave better results on exams

3. Reading the name of a certain color inked with another color can be tricky

Conclusion

As a result of all these experiments I realize that there is always a

conclusion, that gives enough strong facts, to convince us why some reactions happen.

Before an experiment get started, there are some hypothesis in mind about what the

conclusion will give. There are two possible endings:

1. The experiment will follow the hypothesis and it will give a resolution we

thought about

2. Or, it will surprise us and the results may open new ideas about the way

our brain works.

I believe that psychological experiment results are one of the best ways to

find out our brain’s mysterious parts and help us come with new inventions or maybe

treatments. We would never be able to discover all the secrets of the brain, but finding

out what we can is the most important part.

References

Reyes, M. (2017, June 05). 25 Mind Blowing Psychology Experiments...You Won't Believe What's Inside
Your Head. Retrieved October 28, 2017, from http://list25.com/25-intriguing-psychology-experiments/

10 Psychological Experiments That Could Never Happen Today. (2013, September 20). Retrieved
October 28, 2017, from http://mentalfloss.com/article/52787/10-famous-psychological-experiments-
could-never-happen-today

(n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2017, from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx?item=1

The Little Albert Experiment. (2016, October 19). Retrieved October 28, 2017, from
https://www.psychologized.org/the-little-albert-experiment/

Reyes, M. (2017, June 05). 25 Mind Blowing Psychology Experiments...You Won't Believe What's Inside
Your Head. Retrieved October 28, 2017, from http://list25.com/25-intriguing-psychology-experiments/

Cherry, K. (n.d.). 23 Great Psychology Experiment Ideas to Explore. Retrieved October 28, 2017, from
https://www.verywell.com/psychology-experiment-ideas-2795669