Chunks MicrolearningThe Little Albert Experiment
How a controversial experiment changed psychology and ethics forever.
Psychology Seeks a New Science
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Little Albert experiment and who conducted it?
The Little Albert experiment was a controversial psychological study conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner at Johns Hopkins University in 1920. The researchers conditioned an infant nicknamed 'Little Albert' to fear a white rat by pairing the rat with loud, frightening noises. This experiment became one of the most famous studies in behavioral psychology, demonstrating classical conditioning in humans.
How did the Little Albert experiment change psychology and research ethics?
The Little Albert experiment helped establish behaviorism as a dominant force in psychology by proving that human emotions could be conditioned through environmental manipulation. However, the study's treatment of the infant subject without informed consent or consideration of psychological harm led to major reforms in research ethics. Modern psychological research now requires strict ethical oversight and informed consent protocols that were absent in Watson's era.
What happened to the child known as Little Albert after the experiment?
The identity and fate of Little Albert remained a mystery for decades after the 1920 experiment. Recent historical research suggests the child may have been Douglas Merritte, who died at age six from hydrocephalus, a condition he may have had during the study. The researchers never attempted to reverse the conditioned fears they created, raising serious questions about the experiment's long-term impact on the child.
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