John B. Watson

John B. Watson (1878-1958) was an American psychologist and the founder of behaviorism. Born in South Carolina, Watson eventually studied under John Dewey at the University of Chicago, earning a Ph.D. in 1903. In 1908, he began teaching at Johns Hopkins University, a position he held until 1920. Paper Masters can compose a custom written research paper on John B. Watson that follows your specific guidelines.
Watson's Behaviorist Manifesto
In 1913, Watson published an article that became known as the "Behaviorist Manifesto." In it, he described his new theories that described behaviorism as an experimental branch of psychology. The goal was to be able to predict behavior. Much of Watson's work was influenced by the writings and experiments of the scientist Ivan Pavlov, famous for his experiments on dogs.
Behaviorism, as a branch of psychology, focuses on the following:
- External behaviors of individuals rather than their internal psychological makeup and motivations
- Watson believed that consciousness could not be studied
- Watson asserted that psychology should not concern itself with the mind, only behaviors
Watson's Experiment
In 1928, Watson published Psychological Care of Infant and Child, co-written with his wife. In it, he proposed that children be treated like small adults and warned against providing too much love and affection. In an experiment called the "Little Albert" experiment, Watson was able to instill fear of a white rat into a child through conditioning. This experiment has remained one of the most controversial in the history of psychology.
Related Research Paper Topic Suggestions
Aaron Beck - Aaron Beck research papers discuss the American psychiatrist who was often labeled the father of Cognitive Therapy.
Abraham Maslow - Abraham Maslow custom papers examine the American psychologist best known for his hierarchy of needs.
Albert Bandura - Albert Bandura research papers look into the career of the leading psychologist who first developed social learning theory.
Albert Ellis - Albert Ellis research papers discuss the man who pioneered REBT back in the 1950s.
Daniel Goleman - Daniel Goleman Research Papers delve into the philosophy of emotional intelligence and the skills that help people harmonize. Research on Goleman that is targetted at whatever course material you need for the theory of emotional intelligences to apply to.
Edward Tolman - Research papers on Edward Tolman discuss the American psychologist known for being the founder of purposive behaviorism, a branch of modern day psychology.
Frederick Herzberg - Research papers on Frederick Herzberg look into the American psychologist whose work became highly influential in business management. Herzberg was known for Motivator-Hygiene Theory, otherwise known as the two-factor theory.
Geert Hofstede - Geert Hofstede research papers discuss the Dutch social psychologist known for his groundbreaking research in the areas of cross-cultural groups and organizations.
James Mckeen Cattell - James McKeen Cattell custom research papers examine the American psychologist who became the first professor of psychology in the United States.
Max Wertheimer - Max Wertheimer research papers look into the life and career of one of the three founders of Gestalt psychology.
Purposive Behaviorism - Purposive behaviorism research papers discuss Edward Tolman study of behavior that combines traditional behaviorism with a focus on the goal of any given behavior.
Radical Behaviorism - Radical Behaviorism research papers examine the branch of psychology that follows the philosophy of American psychiatrist B.F. Skinner.
Skinner - Skinner essays examine the American psychologist and proponent of the school of behaviorism.
Stimulusresponse Learning - Stimulus-Response Learning Research Papers overview the ability of an organism to learn to perform a conditioned behavior in the presence of a stimulus.