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The Aversion Project

Conducted by Dr. Aubrey Levin

Instruments

  • Direct observations
  • Physiological recordings
  • Observed behavior and noted for any changes during testing.
  • Electrodes with a dial calibrated 1-10 with different currents.

A different perspective

We believe that this experiment cannot be modified to meet ethical standards. Even if the focus is not to "cure" homosexuality, we are still singling out a certain community.

References

http://www.mrc.ac.za/healthsystems/aversion.pdf

The Basics of Communication Research by Leslie A. Baxter and Earl Babbie

Procedures "treatments"

Objectives & Scope

Brief Background

  • Electroshock therapy: participants were forced to look at explicit pictures, encouraged to fantasize, then shocked until it was unbearable.
  • Chemical castration
  • Hormone treatments
  • Approximately 900 sex change operations (many unfinished or led to death)
  • After operations, participants were given new birth certificates, discharged from the army and told to cut ties with family and friends.
  • Participants often had no money for hormones after.
  • The Aversion Project was a collective experiment in South Africa during the Apartheid Era (segregation).
  • Majority of the "participants" of the test were drafted white males and females between 16-24 years of age.
  • Between 1971-1989 the aim of the experiment was to "cure" homosexuality among the drafted troops.
  • The purpose of the experiment was to try and forcefully alter the sexual preferences in the homosexual males and females using pain induced methods to become heterosexual.
  • Hypothesis: Exposing homosexual participants to aversion therapy would turn them heterosexual.
  • This study did not include research questions

Participants

photo credit: http://theanonymousanthropologist.com/?tag=gay

Picture credit: http://www.steadyhealth.com/slideshows/10-evil-medical-experiments

  • South Africans drafted into the South African Defense Force, all white, mostly males between 16-24
  • Most participants felt forced into participation by family, society and the South African Defense Force.
  • Army psychiatrists and Christian priests shipped suspected homosexuals to this military psychiatric unit.

Results

Today's Ethics Applied

  • After treatment, Dr. Aubrey Levin’s hypothesis was found false. Instead of “curing” his victims of homosexuality, it left them psychologically damaged. Some were able to recover but others had became so mentally unstable and committed suicide.
  • Dr. Aubrey Levin hypothesis was not sufficiently answered. In fact, the victims that were not “cured” of their homosexuality, were forced to undergo sex reassignment surgery (male-to-female).

Today's Ethics Applied

  • Regulations with additions and revisions to IRBs in 1981. Strict approval process.
  • Informed consent with full disclosure of risks.
  • Anonymity/Deceptions/De-Briefing/Objectivity/Honesty & Integrity

Conclusions

Nuremberg Code

  • "Importance in gaining voluntary content.
  • Avoidance of unnecessary physical or psychological suffering
  • Avoidance of research where death or injury is likely
  • Commitment to end any experiment if its continuation would be likely to kill, injure or disable participants.
  • Importance of having research conducted by only highly qualified researchers
  • Commitment to research only for the good of society."

Data Analysis

  • Homosexuality is not a disease.
  • Dr. Levin recently convicted to 5 years in jail in 2014 after being proven guilty on 3 counts of sexual assault against male patients.
  • There is a support group for surviving participants
  • 0 "cures" for participants.
  • Shocks showed no desired effects.
  • Psychological damage or suicide
  • Some recovered.

Ethical Issues

  • Participants signed consent, with missing details
  • Participants did not expect to be electrically shocked or receive vomit inducing injections or sex changes.
  • No option to withdraw, and participants were held against their will, stripped of clothes and belongings.
  • Confidentiality remained secure.

Ethics by Dmitry, Alexandra and Michael

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