Ethical and Social

• Weaknesses - Ethical

  • Psychological harm
  • Criticised for causing harm on a vulnerable ppt
  • The procedure created distress + potential lifelong fear as they also prevented Albert sucking his thumb
  • Arguably a unethical way to carry out study
  • Lack of debrief
  • W+R didn't debrief Albert's mother nor did they return Albert to his original state of no fear response to furry objects
  • This makes the study arguable unethical
• Strengths - Ethical

  • W+R say they were ethical
  • Harm that Albert experience was said to be no more than everyday 'rough and tumble'
  • They intended to decondition Albert but his mother removed him from hospital before they could
  • Ethical guidelines did not exist at time; unfair to hold them accountable
• Strengths - Social

  • Health sector
  • Showed that phobias are learnt; they can therefore be 'unlearnt'
  • led to successful application in the form of systematic desensitisation which counter condition fear with relaxation
  • proven valuable in phobia treatment, the study has positive implications
  • Education
  • environments + conditioning can affect emotions
  • Le Francois = CC to improve performance through maximising pleasant stimuli and reducing unpleasant ones
  • students will associate school with positive emotions; increasing attendance and performance; benefiting them in the future