Watson & Rayner

• Aim

  To demonstrate that simple emotional responses such as fear can be acquired through a process of classical conditioning
• why Albert was chosen

  He Was a healthy boy only 9 months old - tabula rasa (clean slate)
• Albert initially unafraid of

  White rat, rabbit, dog, monkey, masks
• Labels

  UCS - bang

  UCR - fear

  NS - rat

  CS - rat

  CR - fear/crying
• Stimulus generalisation 


  Shown when, in session 3, he reacted to other white furry objects like the rabbit with fear - he cried. Displayed mild fear towards dog
• Conclusion

  Not hard to condition an emotional response to an NS. Only 2 sessions required to produce a CR to the rat (and others)
• Ethics

  Psychological damage

  His mum gave consent and exercised her right to withdraw mi- experiment (before unconditioned)
• Weakness 1

  poor generalisability - only used one P, who may have been unusual - described as rarely cries. All n=1 studies have problems w generalisability Bevsuse individual may not represent target pop. P variables affect results
• Weakness 2

  Some aspects not well controlled. Eg rabbit was suddenly placed in front of Albert and a reluctant dog was pushed towards him. The actions may have caused fear rather than the animals
• Strength 1

  Good experimental controls which enhance validity of study - results more likely due to conditioning not EVs

  Little Albert carefully selected due to his emotional stability - making his individual characteristics less likely to affect results

  Procedure took place in well controlled room to prevent influence of other stimuli

  Responses to wooden blocks checked to ensure reactions were not just a general increase in anxiety
• Application to acquiring phobias

  Clinical applications in understanding how we acquire phobias and related symptoms like anxiety

  Has led to development of effective therapies
• Session 1

  When Albert was 11 months, was taken to 'lab' and white rat presented to him. He reached out to it and metal bar struck loudly behind his head
• Session 2

  A week later he returned and was exposed to rat-bang combo 5 times.

  Then tested w wooden blocks where he showed no fear - showed wasn't getting more scared generally
• Session 3

  A further five days later Albert returned and his responses to rats, and other objects including wooden blocks, rabbit, dog, coat etc
• Session 4

  Five days later he was taken to new environment - lecture room w four people and then assessed
• Session 5

  Tested again one month later when he was 12 months and tested w rat, rabbit, coat, santa mask, blocks
• Findings

  At start, no fear response to any objects apart from loud noise - startled him - unconditioned response

  Session 2 - more cautious towards rat - not reaching out and pulling away, after further conditioning he cried and tried to crawl away

  Session 3 - showed response to white furry objects and mild fear to dog

  4,5 - fear remained for white furry objects but lessened in diff environments and after time