The “Oops” In The Field Of Psychology and Its Effects
Abstract
A mistake in psychology simply refers to beliefs or mythology that often limits or delays our progress and growth in life. They are always as a result of being misinformed and whose results deviate a person from their objectives. Making mistakes brings about a lot of anxiety, and the thought of making mistakes is perceived differently from one individual to the other (Watson, 1913). However, the bottom line is that it is an action or decision that has regrets. In our topic today, we look into Conditioned Fear as a psychological mistake and its effects if not corrected.
This psychological ‘Oops’ has been a case of study as early as the 1920s. It has been studied and tries to explain many questions. Conclusions can be made that phobias are the most likely signs of conditioned response. The theory of John B Watson has played a great role in explaining many questions in psychology and other disciplines. It has also inspired a lot of researches regarding the ‘mistakes’ of psychology and provided a path towards investigations on the same in the present days.
Keywords;
Mistakes, Psychology, Conditioned, Fear, Withdraw. Long-Term. Limited, Minds, Stimuli.
Introduction
Conditioned Fear was an idea brought forth by Jason B Watson experimenting with a child, Albert. This is one of the most influential tests that have helped psychology study up to date. In his experiment, he was trying to explain how conditioned stimulus leads to a conditioned response (Tomarken, Mineka & Cook, 1989). The actual experiment involved things that little Albert liked, such as fire, a monkey, and a dog, to mention just but a few. He particularly liked the white rat. Watson conditioned the little boy to a scenario where every time he could reach for the rat, and he could cause a loud bang. In this setting, he at first did not withdraw. To reach for it for a second time with a bang as it was earlier performed, he cried immediately.
At this point, Watson had conditioned fear into little Albert. He acted cautiously with the dog when tried with one; not only did it get to his head when he started to cry. He was shown a silk coat and a rabbit, but all he showed were negative responses such as agitation. From the incident with the first rat, he did not associate positively with familiar objects that had the same characteristic as the rat. This phenomenon is known as Generalization, in an experiment to see if he could retain fear in little Albert over some time. He was taken home, and after one month, he was brought back and tested with the same objects and the same loud noises. The withdrawal was evident in Little Albert. With this, Watson proved he could condition fear into Little Albert (Watson, & Rayner, 1920).
Evaluation Concerning the Implications
Reliability
The standard procedures showcased in the experiment hence possess reliability when it comes to proof. Despite there being a lot of extraneous variables, the experiment still allowed high control. It demonstrated that there is the possibility of redoing the study and find for yourself if the results were consistent.
Generalization
In this study, the report was made on the findings of a single young child. It is, however, argued that the results could not be generalized as Albert was only familiar with the hospital environment only. It is true to say that there is the possibility of recording different results with another child.
Ethics
There is a need to consider the protection of human rights under the category of protection from harm. It is also evident that the mother could have taken her before the conditioned fear was removed (Beck, Levinson, & Irons, 2009).
Application
The theory of classical conditioning, as studied from this experiment, proved that phobias are learned. This means in just the same way they were incorporated in us, they can be treated. The theory has helped us understand a form of behavior that, if not corrected, might bring a lot of negative results.
Discrimination
There is also the ability of an individual to differentiate stimuli. This situation makes it difficult to generalize stimuli and, to some extent, limits the psychological experiment.
Why is Conditioned Fear Considered an ‘Oops’ In the Psychology Field?
Conditioned Fear, as explained by Watson Theory, has proved to have its effects on the individual with such a psychological setup. It was evident that classical conditioning could be used to create a phobia. In psychology, the phobia is an irrational fear, which is a result of the brain being aware of the danger. This proves that the same neutral stimuli can work and have an effect on us, even on general stimuli.
Implications in Our Real Life
This could be interpreted in real life in the sense that some of the doubts we hold exist as a phobia. This is because it exists not with the presence of the actual stimuli but because of the doubt created, and the response is fear. This means that in real life, some of these ‘Mistakes’ are just conditioned in our minds to limit or to deviate us to meet our objectives.
The experiment has also shown that the conditioned effect is hard to do away with. Every association with the stimuli helps in renewing the whole ‘Mistake’ just as with Little Albert; this could remain as part of someone’s life over a long period. The long-term effects would always be withdrawing from any object that will familiarize your mind to the danger ahead. It also plays a major role in ensuring that the individual is cautious when approaching similar incidents. It should also be noted that with a time without stimulation of the conditioned behavior, the effects may shrink over months or weeks. This process is referred to as extinction.
There are solutions given to us in how we can manage if not control such behaviors. An effort to try and control this may also affect our ways of making choices. It is true to say the extinction of the psychological ‘Mistakes,’ which are ideally part of life, will make individuals less cautious when it comes to handling matters.
Limitations and Criticism of Conditioned Fear with Little Alfred Theory to The Present World
Limitations
In this theory, there have been a lot of critical areas that ought to have been addressed that were left out. This might make it quite debatable. For example, it could not be generalized to all people and the ‘Oops’ because we could be working with people who have low external validity. Just the same way with Little Albert, the condition placed on him was unique to him for the first time. It would occur the same in real life; a new environment that you have never experienced before might cause unrest (Beck, Levinson & Irons, 2009).
Criticism
It has also shown some aspects of ignorance in following ethical guidelines in either of the following ways by making judges retrospectively (Powell, Digdon, Harris & Smithson, 2014);
- It did conduct the whole experiment without the consent of Little Albert’s parents.
- After experimenting with the child, the fear of rats that they had created in him was not cleared off Albert.
- There might be traces of psychological harm from the created fear response imposed on the child by Watson.
Classical Conditioning
This experiment could be easily explained using the theory brought forth by Classical Conditioning. This was a notion proposed by a Russian physiologist, Pavlov. The theory helps us understand this by involving two stimuli, and when paired, they bring a completely new response. John Watson agreed that this theory applied to all human psychological characteristics (McLeod, 2018). Looking at it deeper, we can agree that from how we undertake our normal activities, there is always a pattern on how we respond. In support of this, Watson concluded that there is no way how the mind would be conscious. He also made the statement that our different behaviors emerged as a result of different learning experiences.
Examples of Classical Conditioning
There are three main stages of classical conditioning and are always categorized about the stimuli and response.
First Stage; Before Conditioning
In this stage, we just experience an unconditioned response from an unconditioned stimulus in the experimental organism (De Peuter et al., 2011). This means that whatever response is made is unlearned because the response is generated naturally.
Second Stage; During Conditioning
On the other hand, at this stage, an unconditioned stimulus is associated with no responses, where at this level, it is termed as the conditioned stimulus (Ollendick & Muris, 2015). The conditioned stimulus should always come before or at the same time as the unconditioned to act as a signal.
After Conditioning
Finally, the newly conditioned response has been created as a result of linking both the conditioned stimulus and the unconditional stimulus.
Conclusion
The psychological ‘Oops’ of Conditioned Fear that was brought forth by Watson might just be seen as an experiment towards unfolding this Psychology ‘Mistake,’ but in a real sense, it has opened an understanding about human behavior. Most of what we have created as our phobias might just simply be ideas that we have created in our minds that we just have goosebumps every time we are reminded of them. This has seen to have a lot of adverse effects, and when we let them take, the better part of us causes huge damage.
References
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Watson, J.B. (1913). Psychology as the behaviorist views It. Psychological Review, 20, 158-177.