John Watson Founder of Behaviorism Essay

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What are John Watson's primary critiques of psychology (i.e., the study of consciousness via introspection)? How does he propose to solve these issues? Do you believe that introspection is important in changing behavior? Why or why not?

First, Watson believed that psychology used “esoteric methods,” and could not establish itself as a natural science (p. 163). Second, Watson noted that unlike the sciences, it is impossible to improve upon the methods used in an experiment in any meaningful way. “The attack is made upon the observer and not the upon the experimental setting,” (Watson, 1913, p. 163). Psychology depends too much on introspection, as Watson calls it. Consciousness is simply too nebulous to study using the scientific method. Watson does not claim consciousness is not a worthwhile subject, but that it is simply not a scientific subject.

To resolve the tension between psychology and the social sciences, and to infuse psychology with a semblance of credibility, Watson advises that psychologists stop studying consciousness altogether. Mental states and consciousness are too ephemeral, and the methods used to study them too speculative. Interestingly, Watson even finds a problem with the study of sensation and perception, which was being studied at the time by Titchner. Watson points out, for example, that even sensations and perceptions have introspective components.

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Essentially, Watson believes that psychology is too introspective. Looking inward does not yield results that are externally valid or verifiable. I agree with Watson to a degree. Watson makes a good point, and what he says still rings true as psychology is an imperfect “science.” Psychology remains introspective, even though it purports to be an actual science. I believe that introspection is important, and that it can lead to behavioral change in the individual. Measuring that change is another matter altogether.

Reference

Watson, J. B. (1913). Psychology as the behaviorist views it. Psychological Review, 20(2), 158-177. doi:10.1037/h0074428

What was Watson's view of the environment? Do you agree with his famous statement, "Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specific world to bring them up in, and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select" (as cited in Hothersall, 2004, p. 479). Why or why not?

For Watson, environment was everything. When Watson made his statement, he also referred to the fact that he believed that….....

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