John B Watson Research Paper

Watson essay

The following essay will discuss John B. Watson and his theory on classical conditioning, what it was, what the little Albert experiment was and the ethical complications that followed from the experiment.

Watson based his theory of classical conditioning on the works of the Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov. Classical conditioning first established by Pavlov described the belief that two stimuli can be linked together to form a new response in both humans and animals. Watson is considered as a behaviorist theorist who believed that everything from speech to emotional responses were all a result of stimulus being presented and a response that is elicited. He did not believe in the existence of mind and consciousness, which he has

The aim of the experiment was to determine if emotional responses -more specifically fear in terms of the experiment- could be conditioned. Watson and Rayner before the experiment recorded Albert’s response to neutral stimuli such as a white rat, rabbit, a monkey and masks. All of these neutral stimuli stimulated no fear in Albert. Furthermore, Watson and Rayner tested Albert’s reaction to the noise of them hitting a hammer against a steel bar. Albert’s reaction was observed to have been startled at the sudden noise to which he cried. With their observations they started the conditioning process. They showed Albert the white rat -which he had previously responded positively to- and as Albert reached out to the rat they struck the steel bar creating a loud noise. Albert in reaction to the noise would be startled and start to cry. This was repeated several times over seven weeks. By the end of the conditioning process the white rat would stimulate the same reaction- crying- in Albert that the hammer getting hit on the steel bar would stimulate. After the conditioning process, Albert’s responses to previously neutral stimuli were recorded. He was shown a fur coat, the family dog, a Santa Claus mask, cotton wool etc… they recorded that upon showing Albert the fur stimuli he showed signs of fear. From this experiment Watson and Rayner concluded that fear and phobias

In various points of the declaration it is stressed that the study should ensure that the baby is safe and healthy. This however was not upheld in the study as Douglas Merritte was a sickly boy who died at the age of six from hydrocephalus. This was not as a result of the study however they put Douglas under severe distress from the loud noises that are not ideal circumstances for a boy who is sick. Moreover the researchers are encouraged to act in the patients interests when the study could affect their physical or mental condition. The study did little to protect the mental condition of Douglas; instead of protecting it they worsened his mental condition by instilling a fear in fur which poses no true threat to Douglas meaning that they have instilled a phobia within him. Additionally when working human subjects the declaration stresses that when human subjects-like Douglas- are used their well-being should take preference over the study and as previously mentioned the study caused Douglas distress and resulted In Douglas developing a phobia of fur. It is also referenced that the child should be offered the best therapeutic measures in helping with the mental condition of the child; Douglas was never given this option as his mother left the hospital and study before he could have been deconditioned. What happened after the study to Douglas and his mental conditions is