Experiment psikologi tanpa ETIKA berakibat FATAL (Litle Albert Experiment)

Summary

In 1920, psychologist John Watson conducted a controversial experiment on an 8-month-old baby, Albert, to test emotional responses to neutral stimuli. By pairing a white rat with a loud noise, Albert developed a fear of the rat, which generalized to other furry objects. The experiment demonstrated how phobias could be conditioned, introducing concepts like extinction and generalization. Despite its significance in psychology, the study faced ethical criticism for its harm to Albert, who was never treated for his fear. The experiment raises questions about the ethics of such research and its relevance in modern psychology.

Takeaways

• 😀 John Watson conducted an experiment on an eight-month-old baby, Little Albert, in 1920 at Johns Hopkins University.
• 😀 The goal of the experiment was to explore how emotions, specifically fear, could be conditioned in humans.
• 😀 Initially, Little Albert showed no fear toward neutral stimuli like a white rat, rabbit, monkey, or masks.
• 😀 Watson paired the white rat with a loud noise, causing Little Albert to associate the rat with fear.
• 😀 Over time, Little Albert began to cry and show fear whenever he saw the white rat, even without the loud noise.
• 😀 This phenomenon, where a neutral stimulus is associated with a fear response, is known as classical conditioning.
• 😀 Little Albert's fear eventually generalized to other similar objects, such as dogs and cotton.
• 😀 The experiment demonstrated how phobias can be conditioned through repeated associations.
• 😀 Ethical concerns arose because the experiment caused harm to Little Albert and did not attempt to decondition the fear.
• 😀 The true identity of Little Albert was revealed as Douglas Merritt, and he passed away at the age of 6 due to hydrocephalus.
• 😀 The experiment remains controversial due to its lack of ethical consideration and the lasting emotional impact on Little Albert.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the Little Albert experiment?

The purpose of the Little Albert experiment was to test whether emotional responses, specifically fear, could be conditioned in humans by associating a neutral stimulus (like a white rat) with a loud, frightening sound.

Who conducted the Little Albert experiment and when?

The Little Albert experiment was conducted by John Watson and his assistant Rosalie Rayner in 1920 at Johns Hopkins University.

What stimuli were used in the experiment to test Albert's reaction?

The stimuli used in the experiment included a white rat, a rabbit, a monkey, and various masks, which were all initially neutral to Albert.

How did Albert react to the stimuli before the conditioning?

Before the conditioning, Albert showed no fear towards the stimuli. He was a calm, passive baby who did not have an emotional reaction to the objects.

What happened after Watson paired the white rat with the loud noise?

After Watson paired the white rat with the loud noise, Albert began to show fear and crying whenever he saw the white rat, as he associated the rat with the frightening sound.

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where Albert's fear spread to other similar objects?

The phenomenon is known as 'generalization.' Albert began to fear not just the white rat, but also other similar stimuli, like a rabbit, a dog, and a Santa Claus mask.

What does 'extinction' refer to in the context of the Little Albert experiment?

Extinction refers to the gradual decrease or disappearance of the conditioned fear response over time, particularly when the association between the stimulus and the frightening sound is not reinforced.

What ethical issues arose from the Little Albert experiment?

The ethical issues involved causing emotional harm to a baby without informed consent, as Albert was subjected to fear-inducing stimuli without any effort to countercondition or alleviate the emotional distress.

What happened to Albert (Douglas Merritte) after the experiment?

Albert, whose real name was Douglas Merritte, was withdrawn from the experiment by his mother before Watson could attempt to reverse the conditioning. He later tragically died at the age of 6 due to hydrocephalus, a brain condition.

Why is the Little Albert experiment still widely criticized today?

The experiment is criticized primarily because of the unethical treatment of the child subject, the lack of follow-up to address the emotional harm caused, and the failure to adhere to modern ethical standards in psychological research.