Classic Research- Watson & Rayner

How did classical conditioning work on little Albert?

Who was the participant?

Albert B, known as little Albert

Why was he selected?

He was “stoic and unemotional” Relatively emotionally stable. “His stability was one of the principal reasons for using him as a subject in this test”

How should we describe the method?

A controlled observation- they filmed the study & made notes

What was the procedure?

Little Albert was brought up in a hospital environment because his mother was a wet nurse at the hospital

At approx 9 months old tested little Albert’s reactions to white rabbit, a dog, a monkey, a mask, cotton wool and a burning newspaper

No point did Albert show fear to any of these objects

Testing began when Albert was 11 months old

Procedure- Controlled observation 1, 11 months, 3 days

White rat presented to Albert as he reaches out metal bar struck behind him just as his hand was abt to touch the rat again; bat was struck again

No further tests were given for 1 week

Findings- 11 months, 3 days

1st time he reached for the rat- fell forward & buried his face in the mattress,

2nd time he fell forward he whimpered

Procedure- Controlled observation 11 months, 10 days

Rat presented alone

Rat placed nearer to Albert

blocks given to play with as a distraction task

Repeated joint presentations of rat & bar (loud noise)

Findings- 11 months, 10 days

Played happily with the blocks

When showed rat- fell & whimpered instantly, shown rat repeatable fell to left raised on all fours n crawled away

Procedures- 11 months 15 days

Rabbit & dog presented alone with blocks in between

Fur coat & cotton wool alone

Watson put his hair in front of Albert

Santa Claus mask alone

Findings- 11 months 15 days

Played with blocks

rat- fell over

rabbit- whimpered cried

dog- turned head & began to cry

Cotton wool- kicked away with feet

Watson hair- ignored but played with others

Santas mask- reacted negatively

Producure- 11 months 20 days

Change location (well lit lecture room- 4 ppl)

Rat rabbit & dog alone

Rat alone

Joint presentations of rat and bat

Rat alone twice, blocks presented inbetween

Rabbit & dog alone, dog barked loudly

Findings- 11 months, 20 days

Played with blocks

Rat- bent over crying

Rabbit- leaned as far to left as possible

Change of location

Rat- hands up, whimpering

Rabbit- slight fear

Dog- fell over when it barked

Procedure- 12 months 21 days

Santa Claus mask present

Fur coat laid on Albert’s lap blocks

Rat alone, then placed on his arm & crawled on his chest

Rabbit placed in his lap, hand placed on rabbit h again on his lap

Dog then pushed closed to him

Findings- 1 year, 4 days

SC mask- whimpered, cried

Fur coat- withdrew body,

Rat/ leaned back, covered eyes

Rabbit- shuddered

Dog- cried with both hands over face

what were the incidental findings?

thumb sucking- noticed whenever he was about to cry or was afraid would put his thumb in his mouth to block fear, comfort himself. Whenever he was playing with blocks he’d suck his thumb. In return W&R would pull out his thumb out of his mouth whenever he sucked it to remove his sense of comfort

conclusions- can fear of a previously neutral stimulus be conditioned by presenting it simultaneously with an established negative stimulus

yes, when Albert was tested at 9 months, no fear was shown to any of the stimuli. However,after conditioning fear responses were seen. Study shows conclusively that directly conditioned emotional responses do occur where there was previously no response

Can the conditioned response be transferred to other animals or objects?

yes the conditioned responses were transferred to other objects AND also in a different location.

stimulus generation-fear response to rat was generalised to rabbit, dog,fur coat.

does the conditioned response change over time?

it continued after a period of 1 week. Even a month later the responses persisted & transferred to other stimuli. The view is that the response will persist and modify personality throughout life

if after a reasonable time, the emotional responses haven’t died out how might they be removed?

Opportunity to remove the conditioned response was denied. Albert left the hospital. However it is likely that the responses persist indefinitely. Had they had the opportunity W&R would have attempted to recondition Albert by feeding him candy when animal shown