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Watson's most famous experiment utilized a young orphan in the institution in which Watson worked, who is known as Little Albert.  Watson used classical conditioning to cause Albert to fear a white rat scaring him with a loud noise while Albert was playing with the rat.  Watson discovered that this procedure also caused Little Albert to fear objects that were visually similar to the rat, such as a white rabbit and a [[Santa Claus]] mask with a furry white beard.  This process, by which a response to one stimulus leads to similar responses to similar stimuli, is known as [[stimulus generalization]].

Watson's most famous experiment utilized a young orphan in the institution in which Watson worked, who is known as Little Albert.  Watson used classical conditioning to cause Albert to fear a white rat scaring him with a loud noise while Albert was playing with the rat.  Watson discovered that this procedure also caused Little Albert to fear objects that were visually similar to the rat, such as a white rabbit and a [[Santa Claus]] mask with a furry white beard.  This process, by which a response to one stimulus leads to similar responses to similar stimuli, is known as [[stimulus generalization]].

Classical conditioning processes have been proposed to underlie certain psychiatric disorders, such as [[phobias|Phobia]]. For example, if a person was once mugged in an alley, he or she may develop an irrational fear of alleys in general, and refuse to enter them.   

Classical conditioning processes have been proposed to underlie certain psychiatric disorders, such as [[Phobia|phobias]]. For example, if a person was once mugged in an alley, he or she may develop an irrational fear of alleys in general, and refuse to enter them.   

[[category:Psychology]]

[[category:Psychology]]