Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It, a 1913 address delivered at Columbia University, established the formal trajectory for the school of behaviorism championed by John B. Watson. Through his research at Johns Hopkins University and editorial leadership at Psychological Review, he sought to transform psychology into an objective, scientifically verifiable discipline grounded in observable animal and human behavior.
Early Development and Academic Path
Born in 1878 in Greenville, South Carolina, Watson attended Greenville High School before enrolling at Furman University at age 16. Despite early academic struggles and disciplinary issues, he secured a master's degree by age 21. His subsequent transition to the University of Chicago proved transformative, where he engaged with the philosophies of John Dewey and the experimental frameworks of figures like James Rowland Angell and Jacques Loeb. He completed his PhD in 1903 with a dissertation titled Animal Education, which explored the correlation between brain myelination and learning in rats.
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In 1908, Watson joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins University, eventually chairing the psychology department. During this period, he expanded his research on the kinesthetic senses of rodents navigating mazes. His 1913 publication, often termed the Behaviorist Manifesto, defined psychology as a purely objective experimental branch of natural science. This framework excluded introspection, focusing instead on observable behavior, a methodology he later influenced through an adaptation of principles from Ivan Pavlov. Watson served as the president of the American Psychological Association in 1915.
Personal Life and Professional Departure
Watson married Mary Ickes during his graduate studies, with whom he had two children. His academic career at Johns Hopkins ended abruptly in October 1920 following public scrutiny regarding an affair with his research assistant, Rosalie Rayner. The couple married in 1921 after his divorce was finalized and raised two sons, William and James, using behaviorist principles. Following Rayner's death in 1935, Watson spent his later years on a farm, eventually receiving a Gold Medal from the American Psychological Association in 1957 shortly before his death in 1958.
Fast facts
- Born: 1878, Greenville, United States
- Died: 1958, New York City
- Education: Furman University, University of Chicago
- President, American Psychological Association: 1915
- Field: Psychology
- Key Publication: Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It (1913)
- Burial Site: Willowbrook Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the main goal of Watson's behaviorism?
He aimed to shift psychology toward a strictly objective, experimental science that focused exclusively on observable behavior rather than internal mental states.
Why did Watson leave Johns Hopkins University?
His resignation was prompted by public fallout regarding his affair with Rosalie Rayner, which resulted in significant negative press in Baltimore.
Achievements
- Held posts at Johns Hopkins University
- Educated at Furman University, Greenville High School and University of Chicago
- Fields of research: psychology
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