Final answer:
Little Albert developed a fear to white rats after Watson and Rayner's classical conditioning experiment, which also resulted in stimulus generalization as he became fearful of similar furry objects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on Watson and Rayner's experiment on classical conditioning, Little Albert developed a fear to white rats. This fear is a conditioned response to a previously neutral stimulus that, through association with an unconditioned stimulus (in this case, a loud noise), elicits a reflexive, unconditioned response (fear of loud noises). As the experiment progressed, Little Albert began to exhibit stimulus generalization, indicating that he became afraid not only of the white rat but also of other furry white objects that resembled the rat, such as a rabbit, a furry coat, and even a Santa Claus mask.
Watson's goal to induce a phobia in Little Albert using classical conditioning aimed to counter Freud's view on the origins of phobias. However, there's no evidence that Little Albert's induced fear persisted as a phobia in his later life, and the experiment was cut short as his mother moved away, ending the research. However, the ethical standards of today would deem such an experiment inappropriate and unacceptable.