Watson and Rayner (1920) Flashcards
What was the aim of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
To demonstrate the application of classical conditioning to human behaviour, specifically to create a phobia in someone for whom there was previously no phobia
What was the method and procedure of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
Watson and Rayner conducted a laboratory experiment on a 9-month-old infant given the name ‘Little Albert.’ Little Albert’s reactions to certain stimuli were tested. He was presented with a white rat, a dog, a monkey, a rabbit, masks, cotton wool and burning newspaper. He showed no fear to any of these stimuli. However, Little Albert did show fear to a loud noise made when the experimenter struck a metal bar with a hammer behind his head. Having established that the loud noise created a fear response, Watson and Rayner set about conditioning Little Albert. They presented him with a white rat, and when Little Albert reached out to touch it they would strike a hammer against the metal bar, which would scare him.
What were the findings of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
Even after just a few pairings of the rat with the loud noise, Little Albert would show a conditioned fear response when the rat alone was presented. He had learned to associate the white rat with fear.
What was the conclusion of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
From their findings, Watson and Rayner concluded that classical conditioning could be used to teach an infant to fear a certain stimuli.
What was the independent variable of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
Conditioning
What was the dependant variable of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
Learned fear
What was the internal validity of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
The Watson and Rayner study was not a carefully constructed experiment. The measures they used were unreliable. For example, there was no objective way of assessing Little Albert’s reaction following conditioning
What was the external validity of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
It was carried out in a controlled laboratory setting, and it is questionable whether phobias actually develop in this kind of way in real life setting. It is possible that little Albert might have reacted in a different way in a more familiar and natural environment
What was the restricted scope of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
By focusing solely on conditioning principles, Watson and Rayner overlooked possible cognitive contributions to the development of phobias. For example, it has been shown that people with phobias experience all sorts of cognitive distortions so that threats are exaggerated. None of this was considered a possibility by the researchers, so measures were not taken to observe and record such things.
What are the ethical issues of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
Watson and Rayner’s study would not be allowed to take place today. Watson and Rayner deliberately tried to cause Little Albert harm by including a phobia. They were aware that the noise scared him and repeatedly subjected him to this noise.
What were the social implications of the Watson and Rayner experiment?
It has created debate about the ethics of research, including the role of children in research and considerations of costs verses benefits. It has been argued for instance, that whilst there are many problems with this study, its benefits to knowledge an d society far outweigh the costs of conducting it.
