He is remembered for his research on theconditioning process.
His research further revealed that this fear could be generalized to similar objects.
Such research demonstrated that emotions could be conditioned, which helped shape our understanding of human development and learning.
John B. Watson believed that psychology should be the science of observable behavior.
Early Life of John Broadus Watson
John B. Watson was born on January 9, 1878.
His father had an alcohol use problem and abandoned the family when Watson was 13.
His mother’s deep religious beliefs led her to raise the family with a strict and often harsh upbringing.
In adulthood, Watson became an atheist with a deep antipathy toward religion.
Eventually, his mother sold their farm and moved the family to Greenville, South Carolina.
He entered Furman University at the age of 16.
Watson’s Career
Watson began teaching psychology at Johns Hopkins University in 1908.
According to Watson, psychology should be the science of observable behavior.
“Psychology as the behaviorist views it is a purely objective experimental branch of natural science.
Its theoretical goal is the prediction and control of behavior,” he suggested.
They accomplished this by repeatedly pairing the white rat with a loud, frightening clanging noise.
The ethics of the experiment are often criticized today, especially because the child’s fear was never de-conditioned.
One group of researchers proposed that Little Albert was a boy named Douglas Merritte.
If true, the claim would mean that Watson had committed scientific fraud.
What Ever Happened to Little Albert?
But did Albert continue to fear furry animals and objects as Watson and Rayner speculated he might?
They remained together until her death in 1935.
After leaving his academic position, Watson began working for an advertising agency.
His work in this field influenced the use of psychological principles in advertising and marketing.
He continued to work in advertising until he retired in 1945.
William died by suicide in 1954.
During the latter part of his life, Watson’s already poor relationships with his children progressively worsened.
He spent his last years living a reclusive life on a farm in Connecticut.
His work reshaped the field of psychology, emphasizing the importance of observable behavior and scientific processes.
Takeaways
Watson’s influence on psychology is without question.
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