The 1960s were a decade marked by scientific exploration and experimentation. While many groundbreaking discoveries were made during this time, some of the experiments conducted in the name of science have since been scrutinized, as they completely blurred the lines between right and wrong. Here are 12 science experiments from the ’60s that were once considered groundbreaking but are now viewed as unethical by modern standards.

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Milgram Experiment (1961)

Stanley Milgram designed the Milgram experiment, which is considered one of history’s most controversial scientific experiments. The experiment was conducted to explore the nature of obedience. Participants administered what they believed to be increasingly severe electric shocks to a “learner” in another room. While the willingness of people to administer a severe electric shock provided valuable insights into human obedience to authority, it raised ethical concerns regarding deception and psychological harm to participants.

Stanford Prison Experiment (1971)

Led by psychologist Philip Zimbardo, a former classmate of Stanley Milgram, Zimbardo wanted to expand upon the Obedience Experiment and investigate the further impact of situational variables on human behavior. His study simulated a prison environment with participants assigned roles as guards or prisoners. The experiment quickly went south, with guards exhibiting abusive behavior and prisoners experiencing psychological distress.

Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-1972)

Although the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments began in 1932, most of the study’s unethical conduct occurred during the 1960s. African American men with syphilis were misled about the nature of the study. They denied appropriate treatment to track the disease’s full progression, even after the discovery of penicillin as a cure. Several men died, went blind, became insane, or experienced other health problems.

Willowbrook Hepatitis Study (1956-1971)

Conducted at the Willowbrook State School for children with intellectual disabilities by Dr. Saul Krugman, this study involved deliberately infecting children between the ages of 5 and 10 with hepatitis to study the disease’s progression. From 1955 to 1970, several students were injected with the virus itself, and some were made to drink milk mixed with the feces of other infected children.

Human Radiation Experiments (1940s-1970s)

During the Cold War era, numerous experiments involving the deliberate exposure of humans to high doses of plutonium and other radioactive materials were conducted for military and medical purposes. Inmates of Washington State prison were paid money ($200) to be exposed to 600 roentgen of radiation. These experiments, often conducted without informed consent, seriously harmed participants and their descendants.

LSD Experiments (the 1950s-1960s)

During the 1950s, the American public was both fascinated and anxious regarding the new breed of “brain warfare”. The 1960s also saw an exploration of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) for its potential therapeutic effects and as a tool for understanding consciousness. However, the CIA, as a part of its MK-Ultra program, which was centered around Mind control and behavior modification, administered LSD to volunteers without informing them. The experiment preyed on the most vulnerable section of society, ranging from mentally impaired boys at state schools to “Sexual psychopaths”. This resulted in serious harm to participants.

Carcinogenicity Testing (1960s)

In the 1960s, carcinogenicity testing often involved exposing animals to potentially harmful substances either by gavage, inhalation, or through the skin to assess their cancer-causing potential. Approximately 6,000 animals were killed in the U.S. alone due to carcinogenicity testing. While these studies provided valuable insights into the carcinogenic effects of various chemicals, ethical concerns were raised regarding the use of animals in research.

Stanford Marshmallow Experiment (1960s-1970s)

In 1960, Stanford professor Walter Mischel’s famous marshmallow experiment examined delayed gratification in hundreds of children, most of them around the ages of 4 to 5, by offering them a choice between a small reward (one marshmallow) immediately or a bigger reward (two marshmallows) if they waited for a short period. While the study provided insights into self-control and decision-making, it raised ethical questions about the psychological impact on participants and the use of deception in research.

Electric Shock Experiment on Dogs (1965)

Martin Seligman’s study involved delivering electric shocks to dogs, resulting in learned helplessness. Seligman conducted a series of experiments in which some dogs were subjected to inescapable electric shocks in a chamber while others could escape by pressing a panel with their nose. In the subsequent phase, all dogs were placed in a shuttle box divided by a barrier, allowing them to jump to avoid shocks. Only the dogs previously conditioned to escape attempted to jump, while those from the “non-escape” group showed little to no effort to avoid the shocks. Instead, they appeared resigned and passively accepted the shocks administered by the experimenters.

Guatemala Syphilis Experiment (1946-1948)

While technically occurring in the late 1940s, the unethical nature of this experiment came to light in the 1960s. US researchers intentionally infected more than 5,500 Guatemala prisoners, sex workers, children, and psychiatric patients with various STDs, including syphilis, gonorrhea, and chancroid, without informing them. The basis of the study was to prevent the contraction of STDs among soldiers who had consorted with sex workers during World War 2.

Baby Monkey Experiments (1950s-1960s)

In the 1960s, Harry Harlow became one of the first psychologists to study the nature of human love and affection as the field of psychology was dominated by the Behaviorist movement then. He conducted a series of controversial experiments involving the separation of infant monkeys from their mothers and the provision of surrogate “mothers” made of wire or cloth. The studies provided insights into the importance of maternal attachment and led to critical changes in how orphanages and other childcare facilities approached the care of children.

Beecher’s Ethical Violations in Clinical Research (1966)

While not an experiment per se, Henry Beecher’s seminal paper “Ethics and Clinical Research,” published in 1966, highlighted numerous unethical practices in clinical research, including inadequate informed consent, deceptive research practices, and failure to prioritize patient well-being. Beecher’s revelations sparked widespread reforms in research ethics.

16 Famous Comedians Whose Jokes Are Forbidden in Today’s World

Related: In the ever-evolving comedy landscape, societal norms and sensitivities play a significant role in shaping acceptable humor. Over the years, certain comedians who were once celebrated for their wit and sharp humor have found themselves in hot water for jokes now deemed offensive or inappropriate.
Here are 16 famous comedians whose jokes are forbidden in today’s world.