The Heartbreaking Fate of ‘Little Albert’: Child Subject of Historic Study Died at Just Six
The mystery surrounding the identity of “Little Albert,” the infant subject of a controversial 1920s psychology experiment, has taken a tragic turn. Recent research confirms that the boy, believed to be Douglas Merritte, died of hydrocephalus at just six years old. The original study by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner involved conditioning Albert to fear furry animals—a landmark in behavioral psychology. The revelation adds a somber note to one of psychology’s most debated experiments, raising enduring ethical questions about research on children.
