Watson and Raynor

• AIM

  Demonstrate that Classical Conditioning can be used to create an irrational fear in humans.​

  Phobias are a result of conditioning​

  Fear could be transferred to similar animals and objects (stimulus generalisation)​

  Effect of time and environment on conditioned response
• Procedure P1

  • One ppant – little Albert – experiment not case study​
  • Main IV – stimulus​, later was setting and time​
  • DV – fear response (crying shaking trembling)​
• Procedure P2

  • At 9 months had no fear of the rat, but did of loud noises (hammer on steel bar)​
  • At 11 months​:
  • Made noise whenever white rat placed in lap – done 2x then 5x in the next week​
  • 12 days later established causing fear​
  • Then tested other white furry objects (rabbit, dog, wool)​
  • 17 days later tested rabbit + dog with noise + other stimuli​
  • Also tried other rooms​
  • 1 month and 18 days later exposed to a variety of stimuli to see persistence over time
• Findings

  • By the 5th trial, he showed fear of rat (whimpered, trembled, cried)​
  • 12 days after showed fear of other white furry objects (rabbit, dog, wool) - stimulus generalisation​
  • 17 days after was distressed at rabbit + dog + had same fear response in different room​
  • 1 month 18 days later still had negative fear response​
• Conclusion

  • A conditioned emotional response can occur in a human after only a few pairings of stimuli, but the pairings may have to be repeated.​
  • The conditioned response can:​ be transferred to similar objects​, show in different settings​, persist over time​
  • Little Al was removed from the study so there was no means of seeing if the response could be extinguished​
• :) Objective

   W+R filmed LA reactions to white rat before and after pairing w bang so can easily be cross-reviewed by other researchers. T/f internal validity that LA learned fear of white rat due to CC
• :) Confidentiality

  W+R protected identity of ppant, giving pseudonym LA so public didn’t harass. T/f doesn’t breach ethics as protects LA's identity​
• :( Population Validity

   behaviour of one ppant evaluated (lil A). T/f lacks pop validity and LA's behaviour cant be generalised
• :( Deception

  W+R didn’t initially reveal full aim to LA's mother, who withdrew immediately after finding out that the study was on.... T/f study was unethical​