Little
Albert was a baby who was experimented on by John Watson in 1920 (John Watson
believed that all children are born as a ‘blank slate’ or ‘tabula rasa’ and all
of our behaviour is determined by our environment)
The
aim of the experiment was to determine whether responses such as fear could be
conditioned (seeing as fear is an emotional response as well as a physical
one). Albert was described as normal and healthy, and his reactions to various
stimuli were neutral (eg. rats, masks, dogs, beards, etc). The only stimulus
they produced that frightened him was a hammer striking a four-foot steel bar
just behind his head - making a loud noise.
At
11 months old, Albert was presented with a rat which he reached out to stroke.
At this point, Watson hit the steel bar with the hammer just behind Albert,
frightening him. This was repeated several times over a period of seven weeks,
and eventually the rat on it’s own would frighten Little Albert (as he would
associate the rat with the loud scary noise).
As
a result of this experiment, Albert’s fear translated to rabbits, dogs, fur in
general, cotton wool and hair/beards - but not other things such as building
blocks.
Ethics
This
was an unethical experiment, as it caused distress to the baby (who couldn’t
consent anyway, being a baby and everything) and prolonged psychological
issues. No desensiting took place, so the fears were never removed.
Little Albert died young.
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