Watson & Rayner (1920)

Watson & Rayner (1920)

1. PROCEDURES

   • Emotional tests
     • Showed many objects for the first time to see what his reaction is to ensure he isn't already afraid of any of them before the tests
       • white rat, a rabbit, a dog, a monkey, a mask with and without hair, cotton wool and burning newspapers.
       • Then he was tested with a loud sound, made by string a hammer on a steel bar 1m (length) & 2cm (diameter)
         • Findings
           • Objects:Showed no fear response before conditioning. Metal bar: 'the child stared violently, his breathing was checked and his arms were raised. The second time he did the same but his lips started to tremble the third time he began to sob . This is the first time the child showed fear in the lab and in general.
   • Session 1: establishing a conditioned emotional response
     • When albert was 11months and 3 days old they brought him into the lab again. A white rat was shown with no sound to see of the previous experience with the rat had affected him. AFter this he was shown the rat and a loud noise was made behind his head.
       • Findings
         • When the bar was struck he jumped and fell forward, burying his head in the table but did not cry. 2nd time he fell forward again whimpering aswell
   • Session 2: Testing the conditioned emotional response
     • A week later Albert returned to the lab. (11months 10days). He was shown the rat with