Stories of trauma, behaviourism and symbolism in art (PART TWO)

Ivan Pavlov showed that classical conditioning applied to animals. In a famous, though ethically controversial experiment, John Watson and Rayner (1920) showed that it applied to humans, as well. They showed that classical conditioning could not only be used to produce a particular or desired reaction to neutral stimuli, but it could also be used to create an irrational fear, a phobia. Little Albert was not afraid of rats. He was not afraid of this neutral stimulus. However, little Albert was afraid of loud noises. While 11 month Albert was happily playing with his white rat Watson struck a hammer against a steel bar, which naturally produced a loud and unpleasant noise. This was done repeatedly over the following weeks and each time little Albert would display signs of fear and he would burst into tears. Eventually, little Albert only had to see the rat in order to display fear and distress. He had learnt to be afraid of rats.