Why did some of Titchener’s graduate students swallow rubber tubes, take notebooks to the bathroom, and record their feelings during intercourse?
The rubber tube was designed to be inserted into the esophagus. It was designed to conduct an experiment by Titchener. The purpose of the experiment was to pour down hot, and cold water down the rubber tube to the stomach and note the results of their introspection.
The students were asked to swallow the tubes, to study the sensitivity of their internal organs. Students swallowed the tubes, and had to remain like that for the whole day. Another experiment required to go and defecate with the tubes in the throat. This was done to record the sensation whenever they urinated or defecated.
Another experiment involved the subjects to involve in sexual activities, and report the sensations and feelings. They attached measuring devices to their bodies, and recorded the physiological parameters.
The psychology department earned the reputation of being immoral. The warden did not allow female students to go to the lab during the night. The psychology lab was also called unsafe by many.