Little Albert + Ethical Considerarions

Question 1

Confidenality

Answer 1

An ethical principle stating that participants have the right to remain anonymous in published research and have any data regarding themselves stored securely.

Question 2

Conditioned emotional response

Answer 2

An emotional reaction that occurs when the autonomic nervous system produces a response to a stimulus that did not previously trigger that response. Albert’s response was called a conditioned emotional response.

Question 3

Informed consent

Answer 3

An ethical principle stating that a researcher must provide participants with an overview of the nature and risks of being involved in a research study. For participation to occur, a researcher must obtain signed permission from any participants indicating willingness to participate.

Question 4

Debriefing

Answer 4

An ethical principle stating that at the conclusion of a research study, participants have the right to have results explained to them and to have any negative e ects of research participation removed.

Question 5

Voluntary participation

Answer 5

An ethical principle stating that research participants have the right to take part in a research study only if they are willing to do so.

Question 6

Withdrawal rights

Answer 6

An ethical principle stating that participants are allowed to leave a research study at any point during the research.

Question 7

Who studied little Albert

Answer 7

John Watson

Question 8

THE STIMULI AND RESPONSES OF LITTLE ALBERT

Answer 8

Neutral stimulus - White rat
Unconditioned stimulus - loud noise
Unconditioned response - cry/fear at loud noise
Conditioned stimulus - White rat
Conditioned response - cry/fear at white rat

Question 9

Little Albert

Answer 9

Albert was the baby foster son of a wet nurse who worked at a hospital. While his mother worked Albert was left in the care of Watson, a researcher.

Question 10

Experiment 1

Answer 10

Watson introduced Albert to a a white fluffy rabbit (NS) and at the same time banged a hammer (UCS) to produce a fear response from Albert. Albert associated the white fluffy rabbit with a fearful noise to produce a fear response (CR). The learning was involuntary.

Question 11

Experiment 2

Answer 11

Watson tested Albert’s stimulus generalisation by expressing Albert to other white fluffy objects. Albert showed fear to these too.