Summary of Watson and Rayner Study Flashcards
What was the aim of Watson’s Study?
Their aim was to investigate whether fear could be conditioned in a human subject through association with a neutral stimulus.
What was the methodology of Watson’s study?
They selected an 11-month-old infant named Albert and exposed him to a white rat, which initially didn’t evoke any fear response from him. During the experiment, they paired the presence of the rat with a loud, startling noise. This created a fear response in Albert when he encountered the rat alone.
What were the findings of Watson’s study?
After several pairings of the rat and the loud noise, Albert began to show fear not only towards the rat but also towards similar objects such as a rabbit, a dog, and a fur coat.
What did Watson conclude?
Watson and Rayner concluded that fear could indeed be conditioned in humans through association with a neutral stimulus. This laid the groundwork for further studies on classical conditioning and the role of learned behavior in psychology.
How was the study implicated?
This study had significant implications for understanding the mechanisms of learning and behavior, particularly in terms of how fears and phobias develop. It highlighted the importance of environmental factors in shaping human behavior.
How old was Albert when the experiment was conducted?
11 months old
How old was Albert when the experiment finished?
About 1 years old
