The Behaviourist Approach - Watson and Rayner : CONCLUSIONS

Question 1

What did the study show was easy to be created?

Answer 1

the study demonstrated the ease with which a fear response can be created
- just 2 ‘joint stimulations’ in week 1 were sufficient to create the conditioned emotional response
- just 7 ‘joint stimulations’ were given to bring about the complete reaction

Question 2

What did the study demonstrate could happen to the responses to the stimuli?

Answer 2

the study demonstrated that such learned (conditioned) responses GENERALISE to similar stimuli
- Albert maintained a fearful response to many different furry objects over the time he was studied

Question 3

What did Watson and Rayner suggest was probable?

Answer 3

‘it is probable’ that many phobias are acquired in this way
- however they suspected that the persistence of early conditioned responses would only be found in persons who are ‘constitutionally inferior’

Question 4

What was favoured at the time of this study and what did Watson and Rayner do about it?

Answer 4

at the time of this study (1920) Freudian explanations were favoured in psychology and Watson and Rayner addressed these specifically

Question 5

How did Watson and Rayner address Freudian explanations about Albert sucking his thumb when scared?

Answer 5

• they noted that Albert often started sucking his thumb when scared, possibly a form of sexual stimulation
• Watson and Rayner therefore suggest that Freud may have been wrong in presuming that such stimulation is pleasure seeking
• instead it may be a form of compensation to block fear

Question 6

What did Watson and Rayner say about future Albert seeking help from a Freudian therapist?

Answer 6

• Watson and Rayner describe a scene in the future where their Little Albert, now in his 20s, might seek help from a Freudian therapist for a phobia of furry objects
• the therapist will analyse his fear of a seal skin coat and might propose that young Albert had tried to play with the pubic hair of his mother and was scolded violently for it
• this scolding would cause Albert to push the memory into his unconscious mind, where it would continue to exert an effect - leading to a phobia of furry objects

Question 7

What did Watson and Rayner suppose that a fear of furry objects could actually be conditioned by?

Answer 7

Watson and Rayner suppose that a fear could actually be conditioned by the experience with a mother’s pubic hair rather than the mistaken Freudian interpretation of what happened