behavioural approach - research

Question 1

what was the aim of Watson and Rayner’s research?

Answer 1

to see if classical conditioning can be applied to humans

Question 2

what was the methodology of the research?

Answer 2

• completed on one participant
• controlled observation
• well lit dark room

Question 3

what is the first conclusion of this research?

Answer 3

• many phobias are learned emotions as a result of classical conditioning
• they may have been learned directly (like Albert was directly conditioned to fear the rat)
• or they may be transferred responses (like how Albert’s fear was passed onto other fluffy things)

Question 4

what is the second conclusion of the research?

Answer 4

thumb sucking :
- in 1920 Freud’s psychodynamic theory was very popular so thumb sucking would have been seen as a form of sexual pleasure
- Watson and Rayner argue that thumb sucking is not a drive for sexual stimulation but as a compensatory device to block out fear

Question 5

what is the first evaluation point of the methodology and procedure?

Answer 5

controlled observation :
- good because it’s done under carefully controlled conditions, this means the researchers had more control of the variables
- increases internal validity
increases the ability to establish a casual relationship

Question 6

what is the second evaluation point of the methodology and procedure?

Answer 6

lacks generalisability due to the artificial environment :
- means we can’t apply results to a real life setting, reducing ecological validity
- also W and R only used one participant, lacking population validity

Question 7

what is the third evaluation point of the methodology and procedure?

Answer 7

W and R were not objective when measuring emotional responses :
- they relied on their own judgement
- for example, they didn’t use other researchers to peer check their research
- researcher bias

Question 8

what is the ethical issue of psychological harm in this study?

Answer 8

• W and R deliberately caused an infant to be scared
• they justified it by saying that Little Albert would have faced such issues in the real world
• they removed his thumb from his mouth when he was scared which they identified as being a block to the fear

Question 9

what is the ethical issue of informed consent in this study?

Answer 9

• while Little Albert’s mother consented for him to take part and she was paid it’s unclear if she truly knew what W and R were doing with her son

Question 10

what is the ethical issue of lasting effects in this study?

Answer 10

• although W and R planned to remove Albert’s conditioned fear, he was removed from the hospital before they could do so

Question 11

what is the first social implication of this study?

Answer 11

• findings led to a reassessment of the importance of the environment and experience in psychology
• improve children’s behaviour
• change people’s attitudes to things, such as products in advertising

Question 12

what is the second social implication of this study?

Answer 12

• therapies such as SD or aversion therapy for alcoholism
• means people can get help for their problems without the need for drugs
• therefore some would argue that the psychological harm Little Albert received are outweighed by the how many people the research has indirectly helped