John B. Watson

American psychologist and founder of behaviorism

John B. Watson

John Broadus Watson (January 9, 1878 – September 25, 1958) was an American psychologist who established the psychological school of behaviorism. Watson promoted a change in psychology through his address, "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It," which was given at Columbia University in 1913. Through his behaviorist approach, Watson conducted research on animal behavior, child rearing, and advertising.

Early life and education

Watson was born in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, to Pickens Butler and Emma Kesiah Watson. He grew up in a poor family and his father left the family when Watson was 13 years old. Despite these challenges, Watson excelled academically and entered Furman University at the age of 16. He graduated with a master's degree in 1899.

Watson then attended the University of Chicago, where he studied under the guidance of John Dewey and James Rowland Angell. He earned his Ph.D. in psychology in 1903 with a dissertation on the relationship between behavior and the nervous system.

Career

After completing his doctorate, Watson began his academic career at Johns Hopkins University in 1908. It was here that he developed his theory of behaviorism, which emphasized the study of observable behavior over the study of the mind. Watson believed that psychology should be a purely objective experimental branch of natural science, with the goal of predicting and controlling behavior.

Behaviorism

Watson's behaviorism was a reaction to the introspective psychology that dominated the field at the time. He argued that introspection was not a valid method of scientific inquiry and that psychology should focus on observable behavior. Watson's most famous experiment, the "Little Albert experiment," demonstrated that emotional responses could be conditioned in humans.

Later work and advertising

In 1920, Watson left academia and began a career in advertising at the J. Walter Thompson agency. He applied his behaviorist principles to advertising, focusing on the emotional appeal of products. Watson's work in advertising was highly successful, and he is credited with helping to shape modern advertising techniques.

Personal life

Watson married Mary Ickes in 1904, and they had two children. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1920 after Watson's affair with his graduate student, Rosalie Rayner, became public. Watson and Rayner married in 1920 and had two sons.

Legacy

Watson's influence on psychology was profound. His behaviorist approach laid the groundwork for the development of B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning and the rise of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Despite controversies surrounding his personal life and some of his research methods, Watson's emphasis on empirical research and observable behavior remains a cornerstone of psychological science.

Related pages

• Behaviorism
• Little Albert experiment
• B.F. Skinner
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy