Answer to Question #309563 in Psychology for Jess

Question

The Little Albert series of experiments is one of the first studies that comes to mind for many people when we talk about ethics in psychological research (along with Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment and Stanley Milgram’s experiments on obedience to authority). Obviously, the ethical criteria for conducting psychological research are much more stringent today. However, we have also learned a lot about human behaviour from classic studies such as this one. I would like you to discuss the Little Albert experiments and ethics in psychological research (then and now).

• What are your thoughts about the Little Albert experiments that Watson and Rayner conducted? 
• What did this series of experiments teach us about personality? Could the researchers have learned the same lessons another way?
• Do you think that it was necessary for psychology to go through a period in which ethically questionable research was conducted in order to learn what we did about human behaviour? Why or why not?

Answer 1

a)     The Little Albert Experiment shown that classical training can be used to induce phobias. A phobia is a fear that is unreasonable and out of proportion to the threat. A formerly fearless newborn was conditioned to fear a rat in this experiment.

b)     Random sampling is a common way of selecting individuals for inclusion in a sample in order to best reflect a population. Scientists employ random sampling to ensure that every person in the population has an equal chance of being chosen, ensuring that the sample is representative of the entire population.

c)      The code of ethics was established to protect the general public and psychologists from any abuses that may occur as a result of improper treatment of a problem. The code of ethics safeguards physical, financial, and emotional well-being. Ethics is what motivates us to speak the truth, follow through on our promises, and help those in need. On a daily basis, we are guided by an ethical framework that helps us make decisions that have positive consequences and steers us aside from wrong outcomes.