Watson and Rayner (1920)

Conditoned Emotional Reactions

KEY - Evaluative Points

AIMS

> To investigate whether a phobic response could be conditioned into an infant > in terms of a white rat.

> To investigate whether a human could be conditioned into being afraid of stimuli that would not have caused a fear response prior to the study (neutral stimulus).

> To see whether the phobic response is generalised to similar objects.

PROCEDURE

> Case study > the child was a 9 month old boy. He was chosen due to the fact that he was 'stolid and unemotional'

>Lab-like experiment>ecological validity

> The child, known as Little Albert, was tested on various stimuli, such as a dog, a cat, a mask, a white rat, some cotton wool and a burning newspaper > he did not respond adversely to any of these stimuli > until they struck a hammer.

> Hammer was struck off of a 4 foot pole from the ceiling > Albert showed a startled response.

> When the pole was hit a second time, Albert's lips pucker.

> Third time > he broke down crying.

> Conditioning did not begin until 2 months after > at 11 months old.

> Albert was presented with a white rat, no fear…