Watson, Skinner, and Tolman
Watson, Skinner, and Tolman
PSY 310/History and Systems of Psychology
Psychological Perspectives Used Today Over the years psychological perspectives have changed or advanced in modern psychology. Some perspectives from earlier psychologists have diminished or are no longer used in modern psychology. John B. Watson, B. F. Skinner, and Edward C. Tolman are a few psychologists whose perspectives have remained a foundation for modern psychologists. Watson, Skinner, and Tolman’s perspectives advanced the science of psychology in their time, but they were different in many ways.
John B. Watson According to New World Encyclopedia (2008), John Broadus Watson was born in 1878. He came from a poor family but managed to obtain a master’s degree from Furman University at the age of 21. After obtaining his degree, he pursued a career as a teacher. He developed an interest in behavior and went on to obtain a Ph.D. in psychology.
Behaviorism
According to New World Encyclopedia (2008), Watson would study under the advisors James Rowland Angell and Henry Donaldson. Before he studied under Angell and Donaldson his mentor was John Dewey. He disagreed with Dewey’s teachings and later changed to Angell and Donaldson. Watson’s advisors were an inspiration to his work in the development of behaviorism. Watson believed psychology should be the science of observing behavior (Cherry, 2012). He is referred to as the “father of behaviorism.” According to Cherry (2012), “behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning.” Watson believed behaviors could be measured, trained, and changed (Cherry, 2012). Watson would use classical conditioning while experimenting with behaviors. According to New World Encyclopedia (2008), Watson was concerned the external behavior of an individual and his or her reactions in a given situation, rather than his or her internal mental state.
Little
PSY 310/History and Systems of Psychology
Psychological Perspectives Used Today Over the years psychological perspectives have changed or advanced in modern psychology. Some perspectives from earlier psychologists have diminished or are no longer used in modern psychology. John B. Watson, B. F. Skinner, and Edward C. Tolman are a few psychologists whose perspectives have remained a foundation for modern psychologists. Watson, Skinner, and Tolman’s perspectives advanced the science of psychology in their time, but they were different in many ways.
John B. Watson According to New World Encyclopedia (2008), John Broadus Watson was born in 1878. He came from a poor family but managed to obtain a master’s degree from Furman University at the age of 21. After obtaining his degree, he pursued a career as a teacher. He developed an interest in behavior and went on to obtain a Ph.D. in psychology.
Behaviorism
According to New World Encyclopedia (2008), Watson would study under the advisors James Rowland Angell and Henry Donaldson. Before he studied under Angell and Donaldson his mentor was John Dewey. He disagreed with Dewey’s teachings and later changed to Angell and Donaldson. Watson’s advisors were an inspiration to his work in the development of behaviorism. Watson believed psychology should be the science of observing behavior (Cherry, 2012). He is referred to as the “father of behaviorism.” According to Cherry (2012), “behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning.” Watson believed behaviors could be measured, trained, and changed (Cherry, 2012). Watson would use classical conditioning while experimenting with behaviors. According to New World Encyclopedia (2008), Watson was concerned the external behavior of an individual and his or her reactions in a given situation, rather than his or her internal mental state.
Little
References: A science odyssey: People and discoveries: B. F. Skinner. (1998). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bhskin.html Cherry, K. (2012). John B. Watson Biography (1878-1958). Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/watson.htm Edward C. Tolman. (2008). In New world encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Edward_C._Tolman John B. Watson. (2008). In New world encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/John_B._Watson Vargas, J. S. (2005). A brief biography of B. F. Skinner. Retrieved from http://www.bfskinner.org/BFSkinner/AboutSkinner.html