Watson and Rayner (1920)- Controlled Observation!

Created by: Georgia123321
Created on: 11-04-19 12:09

Aim

To demonstrate that classical conditioning could be used to create fear response in a child, to an unconscious stimulus and to show that human behavior could be accounted for by the process of Classical Conditioning.

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Methodology

Lab Experiment. 1 ppt- Little Albert- 9 month old at start of study, thought to be mentally unstable. It is just an investigation to determine the effects of certain stimuli. Conducted in controlled conditions

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Procedures- Emotional Tests

S1- Establishing a conditioned emotional response. White rat-bar struck. S2- resting the conditioned emotional response- joint stimulation. S3- Generalization. S4- changing environment- 'freshening up'. S5- Effect of time.

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Findings

S1- A jumped & fell forward twice, whimpered. S2- when rats nearer,reached for it. Cautious response. S3-Rabbit was most feared, played with Watsons hair. S4- Conditioned fear was stronger and distinct. S5- Not as extreme, avoided them, whimpered.

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The Freudian Position

Albert sucked his thumb when scared to form sexual stimulation, pleasure seeking, to block fear? A in 20s, seeking freudian therapy for phobia of furry objects. Tried to play with mothers pubic hair, scolded violently.- memory to unconscious mind.

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Effectiveness- Research Support, Not appropriate for all phobias & Research support for biological preparedness.

to show that human behavior could be accounted for by the process of Classical Conditioning.

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Ethical Issues

When Albert reached 1 year old he was taken from the hospital meaning that Watson and Raynor were unable to de-brief him of his phobia breaking the protection to participants ethical guideline and left him with the conditioned phobia.

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Conclusions

2 'joint stimulation'(JS) in first week. 7 JS complete reaction. W&R suggest 'it's probable' that many phobias acquire in this way. Suspected that persistence of early conditioned response- only found in persons who're ' constitutionally inferior'.

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Conclusions

Watson and Raynor (1920) concluded that it is possible to produce a fear response ( phobia) in a human using the process of Classical Conditioning.

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Methodology

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Card 3

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Procedures- Emotional Tests

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Card 4

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Findings

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Card 5

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The Freudian Position

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Watson and Rayner (1920)- Controlled Observation!