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Questions and Answers
What was the summary of the Little Albert experiment?
What was the summary of the Little Albert experiment?
When Little Albert was allowed to play with a white rat, he showed no fear. He did show fear when a steel bar was struck behind his back. When Watson paired the rat with a loud noise, Albert cried. Soon afterwards, when the rat was presented but no noise sounded, he cried. Albert also showed fear when presented with similar stimuli, showing that stimulus generalization had occurred.
Which of the following is NOT an ethical implication of the Little Albert experiment?
Which of the following is NOT an ethical implication of the Little Albert experiment?
What does 'conditioned emotional response' refer to?
What does 'conditioned emotional response' refer to?
An emotional reaction that occurs when the autonomic nervous system produces a response to a stimulus that didn't previously trigger that response.
What is meant by 'voluntary participation' in research studies?
What is meant by 'voluntary participation' in research studies?
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What does 'informed consent' entail?
What does 'informed consent' entail?
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Define 'debriefing' in the context of research studies.
Define 'debriefing' in the context of research studies.
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What are 'withdrawal rights' in research ethics?
What are 'withdrawal rights' in research ethics?
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Study Notes
Little Albert Experiment Overview
- Conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner to study conditioned emotional responses.
- Little Albert, a young child, showed no fear when introduced to a white rat (Neutral Stimulus - NS).
- A loud, startling noise (Unconditioned Stimulus - UCS) was paired with the rat, eliciting fear (Unconditioned Response - UCR).
- Following conditioning, Albert displayed fear (Conditioned Response - CR) towards the rat when presented alone, demonstrating conditioning.
- Stimulus generalization occurred as Albert also feared similar stimuli, such as a rabbit and a monkey.
Ethical Implications
- Do No Harm: The experiment resulted in psychological harm, creating a lasting phobia.
- Voluntary Participation: Albert did not volunteer; he was an infant.
- Informed Consent: Due to his age, Albert's mother was not sought for permission.
- Debriefing: No efforts were made to alleviate Albert's phobia post-experiment.
- Withdrawal Rights: Albert was unable to leave or opt-out of the study.
Conditioned Emotional Response
- Refers to emotional reactions produced by the autonomic nervous system in response to a previously neutral stimulus.
Voluntary Participation
- An ethical principle stating participants must willingly agree to partake in research studies.
Informed Consent
- An ethical principle requiring researchers to provide a clear summary of the study's nature and risks, obtaining explicit permission from participants.
Debriefing
- Ethical obligation at the study's conclusion, ensuring participants understand results and receive support for any negative impacts.
Withdrawal Rights
- Ethical principle allowing participants the freedom to leave the study at any point without consequence.
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Description
This quiz focuses on the Little Albert experiment, an important study in behavioral psychology. It explores how fear responses were conditioned in a young child and the implications of stimulus generalization. Test your understanding of the experiment and its significance in psychology.
