learning: W+R 1920

Question 1

summary

Answer 1

aim= To demonstrate that classical conditioning can create a fear-response in a child to a neutral stimulus.

procedure=
Laboratory experiment using a 9 month male infant - Little Albert. Assessed on responses to neutral stimuli e.g. white rat. rabbit, cotton wool - where no fear response shown. 2 months later, when reached for rat a 4ft metal bar was struck which the noice (UCS) frightened him. 7 times over 7 weeks, then \albert only had to see the rat to generate fear response.

results=
Stimulus generalisation took place as Albert also showed fear response to rabbit and Santa mask.

conc=
Showed it’s possible to generate fear response in humans after few pairings of the stimuli. He eventually stopped crying at rabbit but could be spontaneously recovered by repeating conditioning after extinction.

Question 2

ethics

Answer 2

Alberts wellbeing neglected was conditioned to have a phobia, right to withdraw upheld as was, unknown if fully informed consent gained, confidentiality upheld as ‘little Albert’ not real name.

Question 3

practical issues

Answer 3

• low sample size
  CA= Albert was chosen because he was emotionally stable and therefore representative of the average pop.

Question 4

reductionism

Answer 4

Classical conditioning reduced learning to reflex responses to a stimulus from the environment, remove focus on any brain functioning as didn’t consider SLT, behaviour reduced to single instance of learning.

Question 5

comparisons

Answer 5

Classical conditioning of learning and phobias. Stimulus generalisation worked.

Question 6

psych as science

Answer 6

Clear controls with good baseline measures to enable comparison of phobia, changed room to remove context, paired noise to NS to link fear. Carefully controlled as had play time without noise,

Question 7

culture and gender

Answer 7

Not thought that being a boy affected learning the phobia but hasn’t been tested, classical conditioning not thought to differentiate between genders or cultures.

Question 8

nature/nurture

Answer 8

Nurture as associations made through environment, all humans learn through classical conditioning (nurture) what we lean depends on nurture. Albert had a startle response due to nature but conditioning of fear Is nurture

Question 9

psych understanding over time

Answer 9

Working at same time as pavlov so big area of research, classical conditioning underpinned treatments for phobias such as systematic desensitisation. Treatments developed as CBT now uses behaviour aspects.

Question 10

social control

Answer 10

Classical conditioning can be controlled by others as Alberts fear was. Classical conditioning principles used to associate fear to any stimuli can be controlling as continued the ear.

Question 11

psych knowledge in society

Answer 11

Advertising could link positive stimuli. Showed principles can work with humans. Can benefit from knowing how associations are made. People can be manipulated by conditioning.

Question 12

socially sensitive

Answer 12

Principles can be used to condition others to have a phobia/other actions. Gives power to one over another increasing threats to someone. Albert caused fear