Phobias - Case study Watson + Reyner (1920)

When did Watson + Reyner do their study?

(1920)

Who did the case study on phobias?

Watson + Reyner (1920)

Who did a case study on phobias in 1920?

Watson + Reyner

Why is Watson + Reyner (1920) a case study?

Followed lab procedure but only used 1 child

What was the aim of Watson + Reyner (1920)? (2)

-Classical conditioning can be used to explain how u squire phobias

-A fear response can be created in a child to a previously neutral stimulus

Watson + Reyner (1920) method (4)

1. 9 months old Little Albert given a variety of stimulus including noise of a hammer striking a bar. Response recorded

2. Only fear to noise making it the UCS

3. UCS and NS (white rat) paired together. Conditioning phase

4. Lil Albert shown white rat only and response recorded and compared to baseline

Watson + Reyner (1920) findings (2)

-By the 3rd trial, Albert avoided white rat (behavioural phobia response)

-Albert had a fear response to other items resembling the white eg: fur collar of mother’s coat (fear had become generalised)

Watson + Reyner (1920) Conclusion (2)

-Possible to create a fear response using classical conditioning

-Possible for fear to generalise to similar objects

Why was Albert also afraid of his mother’s fur collar?

His fear had generalised to similar looking objects