T Level Education and Childcare Theorists and Approaches Practice Exam

The outcome of the Little Albert experiment, conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner in 1920, provided significant insights into the field of behaviorism and the understanding of emotional responses. The experiment demonstrated that emotions such as fear could be conditioned through classical conditioning techniques. Little Albert, a young child, was exposed to various stimuli, including a white rat, and began to show a fear response that was conditioned by pairing the rat with loud, frightening noises.

This demonstrated that emotional responses, specifically fear, can be learned rather than innate or instinctual. The experiment emphasized that emotional reactions can be formed through environmental influences and associations, challenging previous assumptions that such responses are purely biological or inherited. Therefore, saying that emotional responses can be conditioned is accurate and reflects the core conclusion drawn from the Little Albert study, underscoring the pivotal role of learned experiences in shaping behavior and emotional reactions.