Behaviorism: The beginnings

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Chapter 10

• Behaviorism The beginnings

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John B. Watson(1878-1958)
Founder of Behaviorism
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A brief personal history

• Grows up in a poor family near Greenville South
  Carolina
• Attended Furman University -- obtains masters
  degree in 1899
• Entered U. of Chicago in 1900 -- obtains Ph.D.
  under Angell at the age of 25 (1903)
• Stays on at U. of Chicago until 1908. Goes to
  Johns Hopkins Univ.
• Becomes chair and editor of the Psychological
  Review in 1909

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A brief personal history contd

• Resigns his position at Johns Hopkins amid
  scandal in 1920
• Moves to New York and enters the advertising
  business where he stays until retirement.

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Watsons Character

• Reprobate
• Brilliant
• Megalomaniac
• Brash
• Foul-mouthed
• Atheist

• Warm
• Unemotional
• Gentleman
• Handsome
• Charming
• Womanizer

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Psychology as the Behaviorist Views it (1913)

• Psychology should be the study of behavior
• Psychology should be a branch of natural science
• Psychology should study both human and animal
  behavior
• Psychology should discard all mentalistic
  concepts
• Psychologys goal should be to predict and
  control behavior

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Other Ideas of Watson

• Advocated strong form of empiricism
• Emotional responses are conditioned
• Thinking as sub-vocal speech
• Rules and regulations for rearing children

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