A Laboratory Study of Fear: The Case of Peter
Full Answer Section
This study could be replicated in another culture but the researcher would need to consider the cultural norms of that society [1]. For instance, if the culture was primarily oral, the researcher would need to present the instructions verbally rather than in writing [1]. Additionally, the researcher would need to consider gender roles and social norms when selecting participants [1].Sample Solution
This is a study about a child’s fear conditioning [1]. It discusses a case study of a three-year-old boy named Peter who was afraid of white rats, rabbits, fur coats, feathers, and cotton wool [1]. The study aimed to see if removing the fear of one object would eliminate the fear of similar objects [1].
The methods used in this study were not ethical and would not be approved today [1]. The researchers conditioned Peter’s fear of a white rat to a rabbit by pairing the rabbit with food [1]. They measured his progress by observing his emotional responses [1]. There were weaknesses in this study such as not controlling for extraneous variables and not generalizing the findings from one child to the larger population [1]. Another ethical issue was that Peter’s parents used fear to control him [1].