The Little Albert Experiment Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What was the Little Albert Experiment an example of?

How classical conditioning can be used to condition an emotional response.

What is the definition of a conditioned emotional response?

An emotional response, such as fear or surprise, in response to a specific stimulus learned through classical conditioning.

Who conducted the Little Albert Experiment?

John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner in 1920.

What was the aim of the Little Albert Experiment?

To test the belief that fear can be acquired through classical conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the participant in the Little Albert Experiment?

Little Albert, 11 months old, the son of the woman who worked at the hospital. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Watson and Rayner consider Albert a good fit for the experiment?

Because he was solid and unemotional and had never been seen in a state of fear or rage. Signup and view all the answers

What was done to ensure Albert could produce a fear response?

He was conditioned with a loud noise while playing with a white rat. Signup and view all the answers

How was the Little Albert Experiment conducted?

Over a 17-day period involving multiple trials with the white rat and loud noises. Signup and view all the answers

What were the results during the acquisition and conditioning phase of the experiment?

Albert jumped violently, whimpered, and began to cry when the rat was presented after conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did Watson and Rayner reach from the Little Albert Experiment?

That Albert's response was a convincing case of a completely conditioned fear response. Signup and view all the answers

What is stimulus generalization in the context of the Little Albert Experiment?

The phenomenon where Albert generalized his fear response to other similar stimuli, such as a white rabbit and dog. Signup and view all the answers

What ethical consideration was highlighted regarding the role of the experimenters?

No steps were taken to distinguish the conditioned emotional response. Signup and view all the answers

What ethical issue arose concerning informed consent in the Little Albert Experiment?

The mother may not have been fully aware that her son was to be used in the experiment. Signup and view all the answers

What did the original journal article say about participant withdrawal rights?

It is unclear whether any allowance was made for participant withdrawal rights to be exercised. Signup and view all the answers

What is the ethical concern regarding beneficence/respect in the Little Albert Experiment?

Albert was more vulnerable to psychological harm due to the experimental procedures. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Little Albert Experiment Overview

Exemplifies classical conditioning to elicit an emotional response, specifically fear.
Conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner in 1920.

Participant Details

Subject was Little Albert, an 11-month-old infant, son of a hospital worker.
Chosen for his stable demeanor, rarely exhibiting fear or crying, reducing potential harm from the study.

Aim of the Experiment

To investigate whether fear can be acquired through classical conditioning techniques.

Conditioning Process

Fear was conditioned through pairing a neutral stimulus (white rat) with an unconditioned stimulus (loud noise).
The process occurred over 17 days with multiple trials.

Methodology

Initial interactions involved presenting the white rat while creating a loud noise three times.
Follow-up presentations of the rat resulted in increased fear responses, culminating in severe reactions after seven trials.

Results

After initial conditioning, Little Albert exhibited signs of distress: jumping, whimpering, and attempting to escape upon seeing the rat.
Significant behavioral change with the rat becoming a conditioned stimulus (CS), eliciting crying and frantic behavior.

Conclusions

Watson and Rayner interpreted Albert's responses as a clear case of conditioned fear.
Suggested that more intense stimuli could have reduced the number of trials needed for conditioning.

Stimulus Generalization

Subsequent tests showed Albert's fear extended to similar stimuli like a white rabbit, a dog, and sealskin coat.
Lesser reactions observed toward cotton balls and a Santa Claus mask, suggesting varying degrees of fear based on stimulus similarity.

Ethical Considerations

Experimenter's Role: Lack of measures to differentiate or alleviate the conditioned emotional response raised ethical concerns.
Informed Consent: The mother may not have fully understood her son's participation in an experiment studying fear conditioning.
Withdrawal Rights: Uncertainty whether Albert could withdraw from the experiment as per ethical standards.
Beneficence/Respect: Albert's vulnerability to psychological stress and harm was noted, as he displayed behaviors indicating distress, complicating ethical responsibility.

Key Takeaway

The Little Albert Experiment remains a foundational study in psychology, illustrating classical conditioning's impact on emotional responses and raising important ethical questions about research practices involving children.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the Little Albert experiment and its implications in classical conditioning. This quiz covers definitions, key concepts, and the psychologist behind the experiment. Perfect for psychology students looking to enhance their understanding of emotional responses.