The 1939 Monster Study

Overview

This lecture discusses the "Monster Study" of 1939, an unethical experiment on orphans aimed at understanding the development of stuttering.

The 1939 Iowa study involved 22 orphans to investigate the causes and treatment of stuttering.
The goal was to induce stuttering in children who spoke normally and reassure stutterers to see if positive feedback helped recovery.
The study was supervised by speech expert Wendell Johnson and conducted by graduate student Mary Tudor.

Orphaned children were divided into two groups: one praised for speech, the other criticized and told they had speech problems.
Each session involved 45-minute interviews every few weeks from January to May 1939, following a strict script.
Stuttering group received negative reinforcement; the others were told they would outgrow stuttering.

Participants were unaware of the study's true intent, believing they would receive speech therapy.
The study caused lasting trauma, with some children becoming anxious, withdrawn, or refusing to speak.
The experiment was never published in a peer-reviewed journal and was hidden due to ethical concerns.
In 2001, the University of Iowa publicly apologized for the study.
In 2007, seven participants received $1.2 million in compensation for psychological harm.

The study, though unethical, gathered significant data on stuttering and influenced future views on the psychological aspects of the condition.
Professor Patricia Zebrowski noted its scientific value despite its flawed methods.

Stuttering — A speech disorder involving frequent disruptions in the flow of speech.
Negative Reinforcement — Criticizing or punishing to discourage certain behaviors.
Peer-reviewed Journal — Academic publication where studies are evaluated by experts before release.

Reflect on the ethical implications of human research.
Consider the psychological impact of experimental methods in future study designs.