Classic Research: Watson & Reyner [Little Albert] Flashcards
What was the type of observation was used?
- Controlled observation of one participant
PROCEDURES | What happened when Albert was 9 months old?
- Tested for fears/reactions to a rabbit, monkey, a dog, a santa mask, cotton wool and burning newspaper.
- At no point did Albert show fear to any of these objects
PROCEDURES | What was Albert presented with at 11 months and 3 days? [1]
- White rat presented, loud noise when Albert reached for it x2
- No further testing for 1 week.
FINDINGS | What was Albert’s reactions at 11 months and 3 days? [1]
- Rat w/ noise: jumped and fell forward
- Rat w/ noise: same as above and whimpered.
PROCEDURES | What was Albert presented with at 11 months 10 days? [2]
- Rat x3
- Blocks
- x5 Rat w/ noise
FINDINGS | What was Albert’s reactions at 11 months 10 days? [2]
- Rat: reached with forefinger then withdrew
- Rat w/ noise: fell to the right, puckered face, whimpering
PROCEDURES | What was Albert presented with at 11 months 15 days? [3]
- Blocks x5
- The following presented alone once: Rabbit, dog, fur coat, cotton, Watson’s hair and santa Claus mask
- No loud noises
FINDINGS | What was Albert’s reactions at 11 months 15 days? [3]
- Rat: Whimpered and turned away
- Rabbit: leaned away and cried
- Dog: shrank back
- Fur coat: withdrew and cried
- Cotton wool: kicked it away
- Mask: didn’t react well
- Hair: didn’t play with
PROCEDURES | What was Albert presented with at 11 months 20 days BEFORE change in location? [4]
- Blocks x3
- Rat x3
- Rabbit
- Dog
- Rat w/ sound
- Dog w/ sound
FINDINGS | What was Albert’s reactions at 11 months 20 days BEFORE location change? [4]
- Rat: bended to the left
- Rat w/ noise: violent
- Rabbit: whimpered
- Dog w/ noise: fell over
What changed about the location when Albert was 11 months 20 days old?
- Lecture Theatre
- Brighter, now sat on a table
- 4 observers
PROCEDURES | What was Albert presented with at 11 months 20 days AFTER location change? [4]
- Rat x4
- Rabbit x2
- Dog x2 and barked
- Rat w/ sound
- Blocks x2
FINDINGS | What was Albert’s reactions at 11 months 20 days AFTER the location change? [4]
- Rat: held up hands
- Rabbit: turned away
- Dog: cried and turned away
- Rat w/ sound:jumped
- Dog: barked so Albert wailed
PROCEDURES | What was Albert presented with at 1 year 21 days? [5]
- Santa mask
- Seal coat x2
- Blocks x2
- Rat
- Rabbit
- Dog
FINDINGS | What was Albert’s reactions at 1 year 21 days? [5]
- Mask: cried
- Fur coat: withdrew hands/cried
- Rat: leaned back/covered eyes
- Rabbit: puckered face
- Dog: cried/hands over face
What location did Albert start in?
- Small dark room
- Sat upright on a mattress
- Two observers
- Hospital
Name the first conclusion for Little Albert
- Took 7 joint stimulations to bring a complete reaction
- Showed no fears ar 9 months
- Conditioned emotional responses occur when there was previously no response.
What was the second conclusion for Little Albert?
- 5 days later the fear response had transferred to other animals e.g rabbit and dog
- The conditioned response can be transferred to other objects and other locations [lecture theatre]. Number of transfers could be large.
What was the third conclusion from Little Albert?
- Fear response persisted for a week.
- After 31 days this continued but with a loss of intensity
- Fear responses likely to persist and modify personality throughout life.
What is the fourth conclusion from Little Albert?
- The opportunity to remove the fear was denied.
- If given, candy would’ve been offered every time the stimulus was produced to counter condition Albert.
- Fear response likely to continue unless of accidental removal.
