The Little Albert Experiment

In the early 20th century, psychology found itself struggling to be recognized as a true science. Many dismissed the field as lacking rigor, doubting its methods of introspection and subjective analysis. Enter behaviorism, a bold new perspective arguing that psychology should study only observable actions, not hidden thoughts or emotions. At the forefront of this movement was John B. Watson. Confident and provocative, Watson believed he could turn any healthy infant into anything he chose: a doctor, an artist, or even a thief, simply by controlling their environment and experiences. For Watson, human behavior was not mysterious or predetermined; it was learned, shaped by conditioning. To prove his radical theory, Watson plotted an experiment that would push the boundaries of psychology and the ethics of research: an experiment involving a small child, fear, and the hope of changing science forever.