In modern psychological practice, certain ethical concerns and guidelines must be followed to ensure safe experimental conditions from which participants are protected; mental and physical harm/ramifications. The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research outlines guidelines for ethical conduct for those practicing psychology. Some of the main guidelines or “values” that must be followed are merit, integrity, justice, beneficence and respect. John B. Watson's famous behavioral and human conditioning experiment, "Little Albert," has raised many ethical concerns and controversies over the years, being considered completely unethical by today's standards. The Little Albert Experiment is a great example of an essay whose purpose is to highlight how unethical some experiments are. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay John B. Watson conducted the Little Albert Experiment in 1920 to study behaviorism in a nine-year-old boy month who went by the pseudonym “little Albert”. Watson studied human conditioning using an experimental design method. The experiment aimed to create a fear response using conditioning methods, as Watson wanted to investigate the roots of human phobias. During the experimental process, Watson and his associates presented baby Albert with various stimuli as independent variables, including animals like a rat, rabbit, monkey, and dog, as well as non-inanimate objects like cotton wool and a burning newspaper. . Albert showed no fear when most of these stimuli were shown, but rather curiosity, but when presented again, Watson made a sudden loud clicking noise that would startle the child . This action was repeated several times and when presented with these stimuli again, Albert automatically showed fear, crying and walking away. Watson's tests had successfully shown that fear could be a conditioned response in humans. Today, Watson's experiment would be considered completely unethical according to the guidelines mentioned in the National Statement of Ethical Conduct. The most concerning violation would be that the experiment exposed Albert to psychological harm, the purpose of the experiment being to provoke a fear response. Although there was consent from Albert's mother, he was only 9 months old at the time and was unable to understand or be informed of any possible psychological harm that might occur or understand the results and the conclusion of the experiment. Another problem due to the age of the participants is that Albert was unable to withdraw from the experiment because he was too young to communicate verbally with the experimenter. Naturally, when he wanted to "withdraw" from the experience, he would have started to cry, but since the purpose of the experiment was to create a fear response, his distress was ignored and the experiment resumed. The overall effect of the experience on Albert was a long-term fear induced in him, although Watson could have attempted to "cure" the phobias created because of the experience using a method called systematic desensitization, without no support. was proposed after the experiment and Albert was left with phobias that had been conditioned without his knowledge, understanding or consent. The study used an experimental procedure to further explain the cause of phobias and.