Watson, John B.
Overview
John B. Watson (1878-1958) was an American psychologist who is widely considered the founder of behaviorism. Rejecting the introspective methods prevalent in early psychology (largely influenced by structuralism and functionalism) Watson championed a focus on observable behaviors rather than internal mental states. He argued psychology should be an objective science, studying the stimulus-response relationship and predicting behavior through conditioning. He believed that through control of the environment, behavior could be shaped. At the time, this was a controversial notion.
Significance
Watson’s work dramatically shifted the landscape of psychological thought. His emphasis on empiricism and experimentation laid the groundwork for many subsequent learning theories and therapeutic techniques. While radical behaviorism eventually faced critiques, its impact on areas like education, advertising, and clinical psychology remains substantial. He moved psychology away from studying consciousness and towards establishing it as a natural science.
Contributions
Watson’s primary contribution was establishing behaviorism as a dominant school of thought. He demonstrated classical conditioning through experiments with “Little Albert,” showing how emotional responses could be learned through association. He advocated for the application of behavioral principles to human development and argued against innate predispositions, believing largely that humans were born as “blank slates”.
Major Works
- Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It
- Behaviorism
- Psychological Care of Infant and Child