5.1.6

Little Albert Study

Test yourself

Watson and Rayner (1920) — Little Albert study

Watson & Rayner (1920) applied the principles of classical conditioning to humans. They succeeded in inducing a fear of white rats (phobia) in an 11-month-old child.

Illustrative background for Little Albert's fear of noiseIllustrative background for Little Albert's fear of noise ?? "content

Little Albert's fear of noise

  • Watson & Rayner discovered that ‘Little Albert’, in common with most small children, displayed a fear response when he heard a loud noise. They made a loud noise by hitting a steel bar with a hammer behind him.
  • This loud noise was the UCS in the experiment and fear was the UCR.
Illustrative background for Fear of white thingsIllustrative background for Fear of white things ?? "content

Fear of white things

  • Originally, Albert showed no fear of the white rat (CS) and played quite happily with it. However, after several pairing of the loud noise (UCS) and the white rat (CS), he displayed fear (UCR) in response to just the white rat.
  • Little Albert had learnt to fear and avoid white rats without the loud noise being present. He had been conditioned to associate white rats with fear. But Little Albert generalised this fear to other white fluffy things including Dr Watson wearing a white beard!

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson