The Watson & Rayner Study - Describe

Question 1

Describe the participant.

Answer 1

• Male infant aged 9 months.
• Known as ‘Little Albert’.

Question 2

What was the study described as?

Answer 2

• A controlled observation.
• An investigation to determine the effects of certain stimuli.

Question 3

What were the conditions of the study?

Answer 3

• Controlled conditions.
• A well lit, dark room.
• Albert was placed on a mattress, on top of a table.

Question 4

How were Albert’s responses recorded?

Answer 4

With a motion picture camera.

Question 5

What objects was Albert confronted with to test his emotional response?

Answer 5

• A white rat.
• A dog.
• Cotton wool. ect.

Question 6

How was Albert’s response tested?

Answer 6

Tested with a loud sound made by striking a hammer upon a suspended steel bar behind Albert’s head.

Question 7

Describe session 1.

Answer 7

Establishing a conditioned emotional response

• When Albert was 11 months and 3 days old, he was presented with a white rat.
• Albert began to reach for it and at that moment, the bar was struck behind his head.

Question 8

Describe session 2.

Answer 8

Testing the conditioned emotional response

• He was shown the rat with no sound to see if the previous experience had affected his behaviour.
• After this, he was exposed 5 times to the joint stimuli.

Question 9

Describe session 4 and 5.

Answer 9

• Session 4 = Changing the environment.
• Session 5 = The effect of time, 1 month after session 4.

Question 10

What were the findings from session 1?

Answer 10

• When the bar was struck, he jumped and fell forward, burying his head on the table.
• When it struck a second time, he fell forwards again and whimpered.

Question 11

What were the findings from session 2?

Answer 11

• Session 2 was a week after session 1.
• He showed a new response to the rat by just staring at it. He was cautious.
• After the joint stimulation, he became more distressed and began to cry and crawl away when the rat was shown.

Question 12

What were the findings from session 4 and 5?

Answer 12

• Session 4 = After changing the environment, his responses were less extreme. Although, after further joint stimulation, the conditioned fear response was stronger.
• Session 5 = He avoided furry objects and whimpered. He occasionally cried.

Question 13

What are the conclusions of the W&R study?

Answer 13

• A fear response can be created.
• After 2 joint stimulations, a conditioned emotional response was created.
• After 7 joint stimulations, it created a complete reaction.
• Albert maintained a fearful response to many different furry objects over the time he was studied.

Question 14

What do Watson and Rayner suggest?

Answer 14

• It is probable that many phobias are acquired this way.
• It also may be a form of compensation to block fear.