Learning Classic Study - Watson and Rayner (1920)

Aim

• Could fear of an animal be learned through classical conditioning by simultaneously presenting the animal and striking a steel bar to make a loud noise and frighten the child?
• Would the fear be transferred to other animals and objects?
• Would there be an effect of time on the conditional response?
• Could the fear response then be extinguished in the lab setting?

Procedure

• This was a single case lab experiment. Little Albert was selected as the participant, he was reared almost from birth in a hospital as his mother was a nurse. No one had ever seen Albert in a state of fear or rage and he practically never cried.

11 Months, 3 Days

• A white rat was taken from a basket and presented to Albert. He began to reach for it with his left hand, as soon as his hand touched the animal a metal bar was struck immediately behind his head, causing Albert to jump violently and fall forward. He did not cry.
• Albert then reached for the rat again with his right hand, once again the bar was struck. Albert jumped violently…