Scary Fluffy Bunny

In just about every Psychology 101 textbook they discuss an experiment that was conducted in 1920. Called the Little Albert Experiment, in it a 9 month old boy was deliberately terrified by a loud noise every time he was in the presence of a white rat that he had initially enjoyed playing with. Eventually he transferred the  fear he learned to have of this rat to other animals, even a rabbit, until finally every time he saw the rabbit he would burst into tears. They never bothered to reverse the fear conditioning for that child, and there are a variety of unproven stories as to what became of him. For some reason that experiment has stayed with me throughout the years.

First, I’d love to know what kind of messed up parents would voluntarily allow their child to be subjected to an experiment that intentionally terrified him. How much money did they get for this? What other motivation could there possibly be?

And next, I’d like to know how that little boy turned out. He may not even have known he had been experimented upon. He was awfully young at the time, and heaven knows he would have had ample reason to block the experience out.

So imagine him now, an adult, and he has no idea why he has panic attacks every Easter, and screams like a little girl every time he encounters a petting zoo. And the worst part about it is he can’t even go to a psychologist because for some reason they strike terror in his heart. And he will not camp or live in the country, because you just never know what evil furry creatures will be lurking in the underbrush. If anyone ever starts to utter the phrase, “What’s up, Doc?” he breaks out in a cold sweat. The mere mention of Beatrix Potter probably causes him to break out in hives.

I’d love to find that guy and give him a hug, but he’d be 94 today, and all other facts about him, including whether he even survived to adulthood, are hazy and highly debated. Poor kid.