swimming rats experiment - some chose to live longer than others
By sashakiddo
@sashakiddo (1102)
United States
May 6, 2011 4:03am CST
I just read about a psychology experiment in the 50s where rats were put into a tub of water and the researchers waited to see how long they would swim to stay alive. Some of the rats gave up in 15 minutes, while others kept swimming for over 48 hours long. Then they did another experiment where the rats were first put in situations where they would be held tight in some area but they could squeeze out to free themselves. After being in this situation, they were put in the water again, and the result was that most of them tried to swim longer to survive, before finally succumbing to exhaustion.
This shows that they chose to try harder when they thought they had more control over their situation. They thought they had better chances of surviving after they were in that tight situation from which they could escape.
What do you think of this? Do you think this can apply to your own life?
4 responses
@sswallace21 (1824)
• United States
6 May 11
How did the researchers know what the rats were thinking? I don't like rats at all and I think these research projects are wrong. It's one thing to do research projects that could save a life. But to do a project just to see how the rats will react, is just wrong in my opinion. I don't know any human alive that would allow this to happen to them. As for how it applies to my own life, it don't. I would fall under the catagory of you are not going to do that to me.
@sashakiddo (1102)
• United States
7 May 11
it's not that they knew what the rats were thinking, but they came to the conclusion because the majority of them were more likely to swim longer if they already had experience getting out of a tight situation. If they didn't have that experience before, more of them stopped trying to swim. I agree that it's unethical, and I wouldn't do this to any animal. This was in the 50s though, when researchers did really questionable experiements. I don't think they would try this today.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
7 May 11
I think it might actually apply to most lives. Very interesting discussion. I think that we all are more likely to fight when we think there is a chance to win. It is hard to have faith when there doesn't seem to be a chance but if we can see a just a little chance, we can gain the momentum to struggle harder.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
6 May 11
Considering life survival it can work for humans too. Some will swim for the shorter times while others like me really enjoy swimming can last perhaps longer. Given survival yes same concept, if in tight quarters you will find more wanting to do the same as the experiment, is my thoughts.
