The Little Albert Experiment is one of the most well-known and controversial studies in the history of psychology. Conducted by John Watson and Rosalie Rayner in 1920, the experiment involved conditioning a young child, known only as "Little Albert," to develop a phobia of a white rat. The experiment has been criticized for its ethical implications, as well as for the methods used to condition the child. This paper will provide an overview of the Little Albert Experiment, including its methods, findings, and criticisms.
The Little Albert Experiment involved the conditioning of a young child, known only as "Albert B." The child was between the ages of 9 and 11 months at the time of the study. The experiment began with Albert showing no fear of a white rat, a rabbit, or a dog. However, when a loud noise was made behind him every time he reached for the rat, he began to show signs of fear. The researchers continued to expose Albert to the rat, and eventually, he’d began to cry at the mere sight of it. They found that Albert showed fear responses to the other objects such as a rabbit, dog and even a fur coat,, suggesting
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Critics have argued that the study was highly unethical because it involved the conditioning of a young child to develop a phobia. The Little Albert experiment is also widely regarded as a classic example of unethical research due to several factors. First, the study involved the use of an infant subject who was unable to give informed consent or understand the nature of the experiment. Second, the experimenters subjected Albert to a significant amount of stress and fear, which could have caused long-term psychological harm. Finally, the study lacked adequate debriefing and follow-up procedures, which meant that Albert was never given the opportunity to overcome his fear or receive any kind of counseling or