Little Albert experiment

Question 1

Watson and Rayner/Little Albert experiment

Answer 1

Conducted a study to test the notion that fears can be acquired through classical conditioning
Little Albert was considered a suitable participant because he was unemotional and never friend or expressed rage
Albert was placed on a mattress in a room, where a white lab rat (NS) was within reaching distance
Albert showed no initial fear of the rat and played happily with it
Watson and Rayner banged a hammer on a steel bar every time the rat moved near Little Albert
Little Albert began to show a fearful reaction to the loud noise, and then to the sight of the rat
Through repeated association (pairing) of the loud noise and the white rat, Little Albert learns to fear the white rat

Question 2

Phases of classical conditioning with little albert

Answer 2

Before conditioning, the loud noise (UCS) produces a fearful reaction (UCR) due to UCS. During conditioning, the white rat (NS) is repeatedly paired with the loud noise (UCS). After conditioning, the NS becomes the CS which now elicits a fearful reaction due to the white rat (CR).

Question 3

Ethical violations in Little Albert

Answer 3

Informed consent
- Mother gave permission but she was not fully informed of the nature of the investigation
No harm
- The experiment caused harm to Little Albert
- He was subject to severe anxiety
- The damage was not reversed
Participants rights
- Little Albert was unable to understand his rights
Withdrawal rights
- Little albert was too young to decide if he didn’t want to participate any longer and it is unclear whether his mother was informed of this option
Informed consent
- Little Albert’s mother was not fully aware of the conditioned of the experiment
Debriefing
- Little Albert’s was not extinguished
Confidentiality
- Little Albert’s confidentiality was not protected as he was identified in research report later written and published by Watson and Rayner