I'm watching a Darren Brown show in which he investigates placebos and the placebo effect, particularly as far as fear is involved.
Anyway, it made me think about the ethics of something which was suggested was going on but which is a lie, the viewing public is told the participants are not. There is supposedly a drug which has been developed which can be given to serving soldiers who lose all fear and can act with complete courage once they are medicated with it. It doesnt exist and the whole idea is a set up to trigger the suggestibility of the participants who are taking a placebo which they believe will allow them to overcome social anxiety, fear of heights, fear of heights and bridges and fear of singing publically.
I was wondering if there was a drug which could be administered to soldiers which would could regulate affective responses, including fear, and consequently preventing the development of traumatic responses to witnessing incidents in the line of duty and PTSD, would it be ethical to administer this to troops?
Anyway, it made me think about the ethics of something which was suggested was going on but which is a lie, the viewing public is told the participants are not. There is supposedly a drug which has been developed which can be given to serving soldiers who lose all fear and can act with complete courage once they are medicated with it. It doesnt exist and the whole idea is a set up to trigger the suggestibility of the participants who are taking a placebo which they believe will allow them to overcome social anxiety, fear of heights, fear of heights and bridges and fear of singing publically.
I was wondering if there was a drug which could be administered to soldiers which would could regulate affective responses, including fear, and consequently preventing the development of traumatic responses to witnessing incidents in the line of duty and PTSD, would it be ethical to administer this to troops?