Behaviourist Research Flashcards
Methodology
Controlled observation of Little Albert 9 months old
NOT Case Study - No in depth analysis
NOT experiment - Only 1 condition
Procedures
Recorded on camera + done in 3 stages
Initial emotional tests to see A response to the stimuli
1) 11 month 3 day - Rat presented, then presented with bar strike. This was repeated.
2) 7 day later - Given blocks, rat and bar presented repeatedly.
3) 5 day later - Presented with rabbit and dog, then blocks, then mask and cotton. Watson put hair in front of Albert.
4) 5 day later - Well lit lecture room. Presented with rabbit + dog. Dog barked loudly
5) Month later - Rat placed on Albert, his hand placed on rabbit, dog pushed into him, and shown Santa mask.
Stimulus list
White Rat
White Rabbit
Santa Mask
Cotton
Watson’s Hair
White Dog
Findings
1) 11 month 3 day - Reach for rat = Fall forward
Reach rat again = Fall forward & whimper
2) 7 day later - Play happily with blocks
Shown rat = Whimper
Shown again = Crawl away
3) 5 day later - Happily play with blocks
Rat = Fell forward
Dog and Rabbit = Cry
Cotton Wool = Kick away
Santa Mask = React negatively
Watson’s Hair = Ignore
4) 5 day later - Happily play with blocks
Fear less intense in lecture room
Rat = Whimper
Rabbit = Slight Fear
Dog = Crawl away
5) Month later - Santa Mask & Dog = Cry, Whimper
Rat = Cover eyes
Rabbit = Shuddered
Incidental Finding = Sucked thumb which lessened fear
Conclusion
Fear of a neutral stimulus can be conditioned if paired with negative stimulus (Initial test rat = no fear, end of experiment rat = fear)
Fear responses can be generalised to other objects (Rat to mask, rabbit, dog, cotton)
Conditioned response does stay over time (Still scared after a month, response likely persist throughout life)
Conditioned response may have been removed if Albert fed candy while interacting with stimulus, however were not able to test
Methodology/ Procedure evaluation
-Procedures caused more psychological harm than in mundane life
-Fear not unconditioned
-High control of extraneous variables in lab experiment
