The Behaviourist Approach - Background

Question 1

When was behaviourism developed?

Answer 1

in the early 20th century

Question 2

Who was John Watson?

Answer 2

John Watson (1913) was one of behaviourism’s pioneers
- key behaviourist
- suggests that the human mind has no place in psychology (untestable / unscientific)

Question 3

Who did John Watson disagree with and why?

Answer 3

disagreed with Freud’s emphasis on the unconscious mind because of how untestable it is and therefore unscientific

Question 4

What did John Watson argue?

Answer 4

he argued that if we want to understand why humans behave the way they do then we should only study behaviour because behaviour is the only thing tat is able to be ‘objectively measured’

Question 5

What did John Watson bring to psychology?

Answer 5

he brought scientific methods to psychology and behaviourism went on to dominate our understanding of behaviour for the next 50-60 years