John B. Watson’s behaviourism, introduced in the early 20th century, revolutionized the field of psychology by shifting the focus from the introspection of mental states to the observable behaviours of individuals. Watson, often recognized as the father of behaviourism, argued that psychology should be a natural science, objective and experimental, dealing with observable events—behaviours—rather than unobservable events—mental states.
Behaviourism, as Watson proposed, is predicated on the principle that all behaviours are acquired through conditioning. This conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment, and Watson believed that the environment is the primary determinant of individual behaviour. He famously asserted that, given a dozen healthy infants, he could determine the adult personalities of each one, regardless of their talents, tendencies, and races, through specific conditioning.
Watson’s most notable experiment, the “Little Albert” study, demonstrated classical conditioning in humans. In this experiment, a young child was conditioned to fear a white rat—a previously neutral stimulus—by associating it with the loud sound of a striking hammer, which naturally scared the child. This experiment highlighted the role of environmental stimuli in eliciting specific behavioural responses.
Behaviourism under Watson de-emphasized the role of innate traits and internal thoughts, focusing instead on observable behaviour and external stimuli. This approach laid the groundwork for further behavioural studies and therapies, influencing the development of conditioning theories and applications in various fields, such as education, psychology, and animal training.
Watson’s behaviourism has had a lasting impact, paving the way for subsequent behaviourist theories, including B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning. Despite criticism and evolution in psychological theory, Watson’s emphasis on observable behaviour remains a fundamental aspect of psychological research and application.
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