The Dark Side of Science: The Little Albert Experiment

The Little Albert experiment, conducted at Johns Hopkins University in 1920 by John Watson and Rosalyn Rayner, provided key evidence for classical conditioning in humans. The study aimed to condition a phobia in a nine-month-old infant, "Albert," using techniques similar to Ivan Pavlov’s work with dogs. By pairing a white rat with a loud noise, they created a fear response in Albert, demonstrating how fears can be learned through association.

This controversial study became a cornerstone of behaviorism but also raised ethical concerns due to the distress caused to the infant. The experiment remains a powerful example of both the potential and the dangers of conditioning in psychological research.

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