Watson and Rayner

Aim of the study

To find out of fear can be learned through classical conditioning

Method of the study

Controlled observation

Albert was chosen because he rarely cried and they were testing fear

Recorded in notes and on recordings/film

Steel bar was 4 feet long (1m x 2cm)

In a well lit darkroom and a lecture theatre

Measured in fear from Albert- Crying, moving away and classical conditioning

Albert was the son of a wet nurse at a children’s home (he was healthy)

Procedure of the study

Test his emotional responses and fear

Testing fear in a different environment (Large lecture room)- Where 4 people were present with Albert in the room

No more tests for 31 days between stage 5 and 6

Pre-test findings (9 months old)

Albert had no fear of objects (rats, cotton, wool, masks, dogs or rabbits)

He did react to loud noises (hitting the bar made him jump)

They tested his emotional reposes before the conditioning to check he didn’t already have any phobias

Stage 2 of Little Albert (11 months and 3 days old)

Albert reaches for the rat and tries to play with it (served as the NS) as he had no fear of it yet

Associated the rat with a loud noise form the metal bar (1m x2cm)

Stage 3 (11 months and 10 days old)

One week later

Presented the rat to Albert again and recorded the behaviour towards the rat

Banged the metal bar again and recorded his behaviour

Repeated x5 times

Stage 4 (11 months and 15 days)

Albert comes back to the lab

He started to show fear when the rat was presented to him, even without the loud noise

‘Generalisation’- Applied other white,

fluffy things to make sure he wasn’t afraid of those

Used a wooden block for control

Stage 5 (11 months and 20 days old)

Test if he is fear remains in a different environment (the lecture hall with 4 other people in)

Repeated the conditioning to strengthen the fear (NS+US)

Tests response to the rat again

Stage 6 (12 months and 21 days)

Testing for conditioning over time

Test response to fear with santa mask, rabbits, dogs, fur coats and rats

The fear was still there but not as much

Findings from all the stages

Albert had a ‘Startle reflex’ from the metal bar in stage 1

He jumps forward and buries his head on the table in stage 2

He is wary of the rat and pulls his hand away from it, plays happily with the wooden blocks and is more distressed in stage 3

Fear when he sees the rat, same reaction to the rabbit, cries and tries to escape

Lesser fearful reaction to the fur coat and dog

Had no reaction to John Watson’s hair in stage 4

Reactions are less extreme, but when paired again US+NS there is a stronger reaction in stage 5

The fear is still there but not as extreme as before, conditioned fear remains over time in stage 6

Generalisability and Reliability of the study

G- All babies are born with fear (startle reflex) it’s innate

But he was an atypical child, there was beta bias (he was a boy)

R- High reliability as they used the same bar, same rat and could repeat the test for similar results

However it was unethical, was against the BPS guidelines (but didn’t exist in 1920)

Validity and Ethical issues of the study

V- He rarely cried, was recorded on a camera, tried a new room, there was pre-testing

However there was 5-7 days in between each stage, and there was researcher influence effect (John Watson)

E- Consent as mum agreed, Anonymity as they used a pseudonym

However, Albert cousins consent himself, it created lasting fears/phobias, when his mum found out what they were doing she said she would’ve withdrawer him from the study if she knew

Application and Social implications of the study

A- the aim was successfully (learning through classical conditioning)

S- Treatment for phobias, understand the importance of learning by association in young children for nursery staff, parents, carers and teachers

However treatments such as aversion therapy were used for control e.g Pete price and conversion therapy- ‘Forced treatment’ to discard his homosexuality