John Broadus Watson

(USA 1878-1958)

Known as the father of behaviorism, John Broadhus Watson published his landmark article in Psychological Review in 1913, "How the behaviorist views it", which became famous as the behaviorists' manifesto - the most explicit statement of behaviorism.  Watson studied maze-learning in rats, and developed a theory of radical behaviorism.

His Little Albert study showed that classical conditioning or Pavlovian conditioning could be transferred to humans. He retired from academic life in 1920 and had a second successful career in advertising; behaviorist research continued with B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning.

Activities

1. Watch Little Albert
2. Read more: Watson