John B. Watson
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Background* Established the Behaviorism perspective of psychology.
* Came up with the ideas of classical and operant conditioning. |
Key TermsBehaviorism: based on the premise that scientific psychology should study only observable behavior.
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Concepts
Behaviorism was founded by John B. Watson. This school of thought became dominant within psychology between the years 1913 and the late 1920's. Watson believed that psychologists tend to disregard, altogether, the study of consciousness and focus mainly on the behaviors that they could observe directly. One of his main goals was to try to reevaluate what psychology should really be about.. Watson believed, confidently, that psychologists could study anything that people do or say in the world..
School of thought
Behaviorism was the theoretical perspective that John B. Watson associated with.
Major contributions
- a notable Behaviorist
- conducted the Little Albert Experiment
Timeline
1878 - Birth of John B Watson in Greenville, SC
1899 - Graduates from Furman University
1901 - Majors in psychology and minors in philosophy and neurology at University of Chicago
1901 - Marries Mary Ikes
1905 - Has a daughter, Mary
1905 - Enrolls at John Hopkins University
1906 - Begins teaching at Chicago university
1907 - Begins working at JHU
1915 - Serves as president for APA (American Psychological Association)
1919 - Publishes Psychology from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist
1920 - Publishes Little Albert study and is fired from JHU
1925 - Publishes Behaviorism
1928 - Publishes Psychological Care of an Infant and Child
1957 - Receives award from APA for contributions
1958 - Burns all unpunished works
1958 - Death of John B Watson
1899 - Graduates from Furman University
1901 - Majors in psychology and minors in philosophy and neurology at University of Chicago
1901 - Marries Mary Ikes
1905 - Has a daughter, Mary
1905 - Enrolls at John Hopkins University
1906 - Begins teaching at Chicago university
1907 - Begins working at JHU
1915 - Serves as president for APA (American Psychological Association)
1919 - Publishes Psychology from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist
1920 - Publishes Little Albert study and is fired from JHU
1925 - Publishes Behaviorism
1928 - Publishes Psychological Care of an Infant and Child
1957 - Receives award from APA for contributions
1958 - Burns all unpunished works
1958 - Death of John B Watson
Nature vs. Nurture
John B. Watson deemed his slogan to be not more babies but better brought up babies. He argued for the nurture side of the nature-nurture debate, claiming that the world would benefit if people just stopped having babies for a while and used the time to come up with better child-rearing techniques. . Watson said that nothing is instinctual; But that everything is built into a child through the interaction with their environment. So basically, he stressed that parents held complete responsibility since they choose what environment to allow their child to develop in.
Informational Videos (Sifa)
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Extra sources
Psychology: Themes Themes and Variations, 7th Edition by Weiten
Chapter 1: The Evolution of Psychology
* Behaviorism was one of the earlier established psychological perspectives, so that is why John Watson would be in this chapter. This chapter outlines behaviorism and defines it thoroughly.
Chapter 6: Learning
* Because John Watson believed in the nurturing of children rather than their nature, learning would be a huge part of Watson's theory. This would stress that what a child learns is extremely important.
Chapter 1: The Evolution of Psychology
* Behaviorism was one of the earlier established psychological perspectives, so that is why John Watson would be in this chapter. This chapter outlines behaviorism and defines it thoroughly.
Chapter 6: Learning
* Because John Watson believed in the nurturing of children rather than their nature, learning would be a huge part of Watson's theory. This would stress that what a child learns is extremely important.
Authors |
Citations |
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Laney Patterson
SIfazaeli Masolwa Alexis Jones |
http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/watson.htm
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