Watson And Rayner Flashcards
Who was the participant in the study referred to as?
Albert B, also known as ‘Little Albert’
The participant was a healthy male infant aged nine months.
What method did Watson and Rayner use to study emotional conditioning?
Controlled observation
Behaviour is observed in a controlled situation, allowing researchers to manipulate conditions.
What was the controlled environment for the study?
A well-lit dark room, normally used to process photographs
What neutral stimuli were used in the study?
- Rat
- Building blocks
- Fire
- Monkey
- Dog
- Rabbit
- Fur coat
What was the first session focused on in the study?
Establishing a conditioned response
What happened when the metal bar was struck for the first time during the experiment?
Albert’s arms flew up and he fell forward
During Session 2, how did Albert respond to the rat after conditioning?
He withdrew his hand immediately after reaching for it
What was tested in Session 3?
Generalisation of the learned fear response to other objects
What was the response of Albert to the rabbit compared to the rat?
He showed the same immediate fear response to the rabbit as he did to the rat
In Session 4, what was Albert’s condition after being taken to a new environment?
His responses were less extreme at first but became stronger after freshening up
What did Albert’s final test in Session 5 involve?
Presenting him with a Santa mask, rat, blocks, rabbit, and dog
What was the first conclusion drawn from the study?
Many phobias are learned emotions as a result of conditioning
What did Watson and Rayner conclude about individuals who are ‘constitutionally inferior’?
Their fear will persist
According to Freud’s theory, what stage were infants like Albert B in?
The oral stage of development
What was Watson and Rayner’s stance on thumb sucking?
It is a compensatory device used to block out fear
What was a positive aspect of the methodology used in the study?
Baseline measurements were in place to compare Albert’s pre-manipulation behaviour
What limitation did the study have regarding generalisability?
The artificial environment and the use of only one participant
What ethical issue arose from not completing the procedures as planned?
Albert was left with a series of specific phobias
What was a significant ethical concern regarding Albert’s emotional responses?
Psychological harm caused by deliberately frightening him
What ethical issue was raised regarding informed consent?
Albert’s mother did not give fully informed consent
What social implication did the findings of the study suggest?
Emotions such as fear can be learned, implying behaviour can be conditioned
What positive social implication arose from Watson & Rayner’s work?
Led to therapies like systematic desensitisation for phobias
