Finding little Albert

A journey to John B. Watson’s infant laboratory

Bibliographic Data

ID8715017
AuthorsHall P Beck (0009-0007-6710-5017, corresponding author), Sharman Levinson, Gary Irons
Year2009
Volume64
Issue7
Pages605-614
Publication date2009-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-066X • E-ISSN: 1935-990X
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/a0017234
PMID19824748
OpenAlexW2136010326
LanguageEN
Citations received11

In 1920, John Watson and Rosalie Rayner claimed to have conditioned a baby boy, Albert, to fear a laboratory rat. In subsequent tests, they reported that the child's fear generalized to other furry objects. After the last testing session, Albert disappeared, creating one of the greatest mysteries in the history of psychology. This article summarizes the authors' efforts to determine Albert's identity and fate. Examinations of Watson's personal correspondence, scientific production (books, journal articles, film), and public documents (national census data, state birth and death records) suggested that an employee at the Harriet Lane Home was Albert's mother. Contact with the woman's descendents led the authors to the individual they believe to be "Little Albert

Art · Census · Criminology · History of psychology · Identity (music · Psychoanalysis · Sociology · Watson · Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology · Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices · Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes · Medicine · Psychology · Demography · Gerontology

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