Douglas Merritte

Early Life

Douglas Merritte was born in 1919 in the United States. Little is known about his early life and family background. He became a subject of interest due to his involvement in a famous psychological experiment conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner.

Little Albert Experiment

Douglas Merritte is widely believed to be the infant known as "Little Albert" in the Little Albert experiment, a controversial study in the field of behaviorism. The experiment was conducted in 1920 at Johns Hopkins University by John B. Watson, a prominent psychologist, and his graduate student, Rosalie Rayner.

Purpose of the Experiment

The purpose of the Little Albert experiment was to demonstrate that emotional reactions could be conditioned in humans. Watson and Rayner aimed to show that fear could be induced in a child through classical conditioning, a concept developed by Ivan Pavlov.

Procedure

In the experiment, Douglas Merritte, referred to as "Albert B.", was exposed to a series of stimuli, including a white rat, a rabbit, a monkey, and various masks. Initially, he showed no fear of these objects. However, Watson and Rayner paired the presentation of the white rat with a loud, frightening noise. After several pairings, Albert began to cry and show signs of fear when the rat was presented alone, demonstrating that a fear response could be conditioned.

Controversy

The Little Albert experiment has been criticized for ethical reasons, as it involved inducing fear in a child without desensitizing him afterwards. Additionally, the identity of "Little Albert" was not confirmed for many years, leading to debates about the validity and ethical implications of the study.

Identity and Later Life

For many years, the true identity of "Little Albert" was unknown. In 2010, researchers suggested that Douglas Merritte was indeed "Little Albert". However, this identification has been disputed by some scholars. It is believed that Merritte died at the age of six from complications related to hydrocephalus, a condition he may have had since birth.

Legacy

The Little Albert experiment remains a significant topic in the history of psychology, often cited in discussions about the ethics of psychological research. It has influenced the development of behavior therapy and the understanding of classical conditioning in humans.