John B. Watson

John B. Watson

1. John B. Watson is often considered the father of behaviorism.

2. 1913 - Watson launches the behavioral school of psychology (classical conditioning) publishing an article "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It".

3. Watson & Rayner (1920) conditioned an orphan called Albert B (aka Little Albert) to fear a white rat.

4. Classical Conditioning & Operant Conditioning.

5. "Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at randon and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chef and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors." -- John B. Watson, Behaviourism, 1930

6. Behaviorism was founded upon the publication of Watson's classic paper Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It (1913).

7. Behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are aquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. Behaviorists believe that our responses to environmental stimuli shapes our behaviors.

8. Two major types of conditioning: 1) Classical Conditioning 2) Operant Conditioning

9. While behaviorism is not as dominant today as it was during the middle of the 20th century, it still remains an influential force in psychology.