Imagine a Laboratory in Iowa: 1939
In 1939, at the University of Iowa, a psychologist named Wendell Johnson began an experiment that would be remembered as 'Monster Study.' This study not only violated basic scientific ethics but also left lasting psychological scars on innocent orphan children. Johnson, who himself stuttered, wanted to prove his theory that stuttering was caused by negative parental reactions to children's common speech errors. However, his method involved deliberately causing trauma in orphan children.
Selection of Innocent Victims
This experiment involved 22 orphan children from the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The children were chosen because they had no family support and were easy to control. All of them were normal children without any stuttering. Johnson and his assistant, Mary Tudor, divided them into two groups: a 'normal' group and a 'high-risk' group. The high-risk group received negative treatment—they were directly told that their speech was imperfect, that they had stuttering problems, and that they needed to try not to stutter. These children were praised when they stuttered and criticized when they spoke fluently.
Devastating Results
Within a few weeks, children in the high-risk group began showing clear symptoms of stuttering. They became quiet, anxious, and afraid to speak. One of the victims, known as 'Case 15,' started to severely stutter and withdrew from social interactions. The effects lasted throughout their lives. A document from 1939 noted that these children 'showed an increase in stuttering and a decrease in self-confidence.' This experiment was stopped after several months, but the damage had already been done.
Controversy and Denial
This study was not published until 2001, when researchers from the University of Iowa revealed its details. Johnson himself never admitted guilt for the experiment. Instead, he emphasized the contribution of his theory to the field of speech pathology. However, in 2007, the University of Iowa officially apologized to the surviving victims. One of the victims, who stuttered into adulthood, stated, 'I cannot forgive what they did to me. It destroyed my life.'
Surprising Facts That Make You Doubt
- This experiment was conducted without informed consent from the children's parents or guardians.
- Johnson used the incorrect 'diagnosogenic' theory, which claimed that labeling children as stutterers could cause actual stuttering.
- This experiment was kept secret for more than 60 years due to fear of legal action.
- Among the affected children, one victim later became a psychologist and exposed the experiment to the public in 2001.
- This study was heavily criticized by the scientific community and is known as 'Monster Study' due to its cruelty.
Dark Legacy of Wendell Johnson
Although this experiment tarnished Johnson's reputation, his contributions to the field of speech pathology cannot be denied. He was a pioneer in understanding stuttering from a psychological perspective. However, 'Monster Study' became a painful reminder of the dangers of unethical science. It led to drastic changes in research ethics guidelines, including the need for informed consent and more careful subject involvement.
Conclusion: Science That Was Hurt
'Monster Study' is one of the most controversial experiments in the history of psychology. It revealed the dark side of scientific efforts, where the desire for knowledge overshadowed human welfare. These victims, who should have been protected, were sacrificed for a wrong theory. Although apologies have been made, the scars remain. This article is a tribute to the courage of those who revealed the truth, and a warning that true science must always be based on ethics and humanity.
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Reference: Wendell Johnson — Wikipedia
Monster Experiment: Scientists Who Deliberately Caused Stuttering in Orphan Children. Wendell Johnson, a renowned psychologist, conducted a cruel experiment in 1939 known as 'Monster Study.' He deliberately caused stuttering in normal orphan children to test his theory. This study reveals the dark side of science and the lasting trauma experienced by the victims. This article explores surprising facts that make readers question whether it actually happened.. Imagine a Laboratory in Iowa: 1939
In 1939, at the University of Iowa, a psychologist named Wendell Johnson began an experiment that would be remembered as 'Monster Study.' This study not only violated basic scientific ethics but also left lasting psychological scars on innocent orphan children. Johnson, who himself stuttered, wanted to prove his theory that stuttering was caused by negative parental reactions to children's common speech errors. However, his method involved deliberately causing trauma in orphan children.
Selection of Innocent Victims
This experiment involved 22 orphan children from the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The children were chosen because they had no family support and were easy to control. All of them were normal children without any stuttering. Johnson and his assistant, Mary Tudor, divided them into two groups: a 'normal' group and a 'high-risk' group. The high-risk group received negative treatment—they were directly told that their speech was imperfect, that they had stuttering problems, and that they needed to try not to stutter. These children were praised when they stuttered and criticized when they spoke fluently.
Devastating Results
Within a few weeks, children in the high-risk group began showing clear symptoms of stuttering. They became quiet, anxious, and afraid to speak. One of the victims, known as 'Case 15,' started to severely stutter and withdrew from social interactions. The effects lasted throughout their lives. A document from 1939 noted that these children 'showed an increase in stuttering and a decrease in self-confidence.' This experiment was stopped after several months, but the damage had already been done.
Controversy and Denial
This study was not published until 2001, when researchers from the University of Iowa revealed its details. Johnson himself never admitted guilt for the experiment. Instead, he emphasized the contribution of his theory to the field of speech pathology. However, in 2007, the University of Iowa officially apologized to the surviving victims. One of the victims, who stuttered into adulthood, stated, 'I cannot forgive what they did to me. It destroyed my life.'
Surprising Facts That Make You Doubt
- This experiment was conducted without informed consent from the children's parents or guardians.
- Johnson used the incorrect 'diagnosogenic' theory, which claimed that labeling children as stutterers could cause actual stuttering.
- This experiment was kept secret for more than 60 years due to fear of legal action.
- Among the affected children, one victim later became a psychologist and exposed the experiment to the public in 2001.
- This study was heavily criticized by the scientific community and is known as 'Monster Study' due to its cruelty.
Dark Legacy of Wendell Johnson
Although this experiment tarnished Johnson's reputation, his contributions to the field of speech pathology cannot be denied. He was a pioneer in understanding stuttering from a psychological perspective. However, 'Monster Study' became a painful reminder of the dangers of unethical science. It led to drastic changes in research ethics guidelines, including the need for informed consent and more careful subject involvement.
Conclusion: Science That Was Hurt
'Monster Study' is one of the most controversial experiments in the history of psychology. It revealed the dark side of scientific efforts, where the desire for knowledge overshadowed human welfare. These victims, who should have been protected, were sacrificed for a wrong theory. Although apologies have been made, the scars remain. This article is a tribute to the courage of those who revealed the truth, and a warning that true science must always be based on ethics and humanity.
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Reference: Wendell Johnson — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell Johnson